Dr. Pethiyagoda, Chandra Jayaratne petition SC over new visa deal

Tuesday, 30 July 2024 02:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Biodiversity scientist Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda (left) and former Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Chandra Jayaratne

Biodiversity scientist Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda and former Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Chandra Jayaratne yesterday petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the award of the contract for processing of visa applications to Sri Lanka by the consortium GBS Technology Services and IVS Global-FZCO and VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd.

Basing their petition largely on documents placed in the public domain by Public Finance Parliamentary Committee Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva, they allege that the deal, based on an unsolicited proposal, flouts the Government’s own Procurement Guidelines and will deprive the state of some $ 400 million in revenue over the next 16 years.

Dr. de Silva has meanwhile called on the Auditor General to subject the entire transaction to a forensic audit.

The case by Dr. Pethiyagoda and Jayaratne is the third litigation launched against the Government in this regard.

Last week, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators, The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Tourism, Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference Exhibition Organisers, the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association and the Tourism Alliance are the joint petitioners jointly petitioned the Supreme Court to halt the deal, which they argue has gravely damaged inbound tourism to Sri Lanka.

Opposition MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka, M.A. Sumanthiran, and Rauff Hakeem too, have separately petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the contract.

The cases are due to be taken up for support on 2 August.