Saturday Dec 21, 2024
Saturday Dec 21, 2024
Wednesday, 8 May 2024 00:48 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The visa controversy raged into the Parliament yesterday with Opposition MPs describing it similar to the infamous bond scam as well as a daylight robbery.
Samagi Jan Balawegaya (SJB) MP S.M. Marikkar yesterday accused the Government of continuing large-scale fraudulent activities as evidenced by the recent on-arrival tourist visa fiasco. The MP said the SJB will continue to fight against it and reveal relevant facts to the general public.
“On 19 July 2021, a cabinet paper was presented to upgrade the Electric Travel Authorisation (ETA) system which was being run by Mobitel. This cabinet paper was passed. It is amidst this that a third party was granted the deal to process the visa last year,” he said.
The MP addressing parliament, pointed out that VFS Global, the company which was awarded the contract, does not actually issue visas. Instead, he said they operate as intermediaries between persons from underdeveloped nations who are seeking visas from developed countries to deter individuals from attempting illegal migration to these countries.
The MP expressed confusion over the decision to hire VFS Global with $ 18.5 service fee, questioning how these actions align with the goal of increasing tourist arrivals.
Marikkar highlighted that the committee responsible for assessing the unsolicited proposal from VFS Global lacked expertise in the matter. He emphasised that the Cabinet approval was granted based on this committee›s report, despite the absence of relevant expertise.
He disclosed that no tender process was adhered to, underscoring the absence of a Technical Evaluation Report.
Marikkar maintained the Cabinet cannot deny knowledge of the deal, as it is afforded an observation period for presented cabinet papers. He likened the situation to «daylight robbery,» drawing parallels to the Central Bank scam.
He further highlighted that despite the third-party contractor›s assurance to increase tourist arrivals to 5 million by 2035, the company is not engaged in tourism promotion activities. Instead, he pointed out that the company is involved in providing travel insurance, which could potentially create a conflict of interest. He estimated by 2035, the income earned by third party will total to over $ 800 million.
SJB MP asserted that the President Media Division›s claim regarding the revision of visa fees to rates before VFS Global took over is merely a facade. He emphasised that the deal with VFS has not been cancelled, and therefore, the SJB will continue to combat this alleged scam.
He questioned who would be held accountable for the loss of revenue via decline in tourist arrivals due to higher cost.
MP Patali Champika Ranawaka also raised concerns about selecting VFS Global as the visa processing firm, noting that the country was equipped with a good ETA system backed by a local company which was introduced in 2012. “Our system was the first in the region to launch an ETA system developed, even before Singapore and Seoul,” he said.
Ranawaka highlighted that the ETA system, if still in operation, would have provided services at a fraction of the current cost.
He labeled the situation as a national scam, estimating that around Rs. 18 billion per annum is being siphoned through the deal.
“VFS purported investment as a $ 200 million is another unsolicited private proposal reminiscent of past practices,” he claimed.
MP Ranawaka called for a thorough investigation into the matter, questioning the terms of the deal and the parties involved.
“Local companies like SLT-Mobitel and Dialog as well as other software related companies, are more than capable of providing similar or better services than the selected global firm,” he added.
MP Rauf Hakeem revealed that the annual income to be earned via service fee of $ 18.25 per ETA by the third party amounts to Rs. 14 billion as against combined Budgeted expenditure for 2024 of Department of Immigration and Emigration as well as the ICT Agency. He, too, called for a proper probe and to cancel the outsourcing contract.
Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshman Kiriella decried the recent visa issuance system and Parliament being misled by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.
“The Gazette published on the system only mentioned an increase in visa fees, there was no mention of the fee for VFS Global, the global visa processing service provider,” he said.
Stating that the Parliament Hansard also only consists of the discussion on the increase in visa fees, MP Kiriella questioned how the VFS fee had been implemented following a discussion in the Cabinet.
“Decisions of such financial significance cannot bypass Parliamentary approval. The VFS fee had been implemented without specific discussion and approval in Parliament,” he charged.
He accused the authorities of dodging the Parliamentary system, alleging a lack of transparency in decision-making. “He (Alles) misled the Parliament,” MP Kiriella charged.
In response, the Public Security Minister acknowledged that the proposal regarding VFS charges was not presented to Parliament as the matter was deliberated within the Cabinet and approved based on recommendations through an appointed committee.
“It was not necessary to present it to the Parliament,” Alles firmly defended the decision-making process.
He pointed out the role of the committee in providing necessary recommendations, which led to the Cabinet’s approval of the proposal.
The Minister also dismissed MP Kiriella’s accusation of misleading the Parliament. “I urge the Deputy Speaker not allow these claims mislead the public,” Alles said.
