Tiran Alles challenges Harsha on VFS deal

Saturday, 20 July 2024 01:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has extended a challenge to SJB MP Harsha de Silva who has recommended the conduct of a forensic audit of the visa process outsourcing deal which the Sri Lankan government has signed with VFS Global.

Minister Alles told media that in the report submitted by Committee on Public Finance (COPF) headed by Harsha de Silva, it has recommended the cancellation of the deal or its amendment.

However, the report has been compiled without the consent of the majority of the MPs in the COPF although the report says otherwise.

As such, the minister emphasised that the Government has not spent a single rupee on VFS deal and incurred any loss.

“Some stories and figures regarding the VFS deal have been fabricated by certain individuals for political and personal advantage.

I challenged anyone who claims that a massive fraud has taken place in the VFS deal incurring a colossal loss to the Government,” claimed Alles.

“I hold the responsibility if someone comes out with authentic facts and figures,” he added.

The Minister reiterated that the Government has not spent a cent on VFS nor incurred a loss, rather it has saved about Rs. 2 million which we had to pay Mobitel earlier.

Last week the controversial non-transparent and non-competitive visa outsourcing deal was literally “crucified” by the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) which called on the Auditor General to launch an immediate probe, which could even mean abrogation of the agreement. (See

https://www.ft.lk/top-story/COPF-crucifies-visa-outsourcing-deal/26-764234)