SL’s Supreme Court grounds controversial deal to issue on-arrival visa by foreign consortium

Colombo, Aug 5 (IANS) Sri Lanka’s Immigration Department has reverted to issuing on-arrival visas at the points of entry, and airport after the Supreme Court suspended a controversial deal outsourcing online visa issuing to a tripartite joint venture, including an Indian company.

Issuing of online visas for visitors to the island nation ground to a halt when the Supreme Court on Friday suspended the agreement signed by the Sri Lanka Immigration Department with three parties — Singapore-registered GBS Technology Services, the UAE-registered IVS Global-FZCO and the Dubai-headquartered VFS VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd.

Though now based in Dubai, VFS was originally founded in India and the majority of the company is owned by an American investment firm, Blackstone.

Sri Lanka’s Opposition had charged that the government had amassed $10 million from the controversial deal which was diverted to the upcoming election campaign. However, the government denied the allegation.

The country’s apex court issued the suspension until the final hearing of several fundamental rights petitions filed by three lawmakers and Translation