Supreme Court Told Cabinet to Review Legality of Private Electronic Visa Agreements

The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court today that the current Cabinet of Ministers has decided to review the legality of agreements entered into by the previous government to hand over electronic visa issuance operations to private companies.

Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena, appearing for the Attorney General, made the announcement when fundamental rights petitions challenging the decision were taken up before a three-member Supreme Court bench.

The petitions were filed by former Parliamentarians President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran and Patali Champika Ranawaka, along with current MP Rauff Hakeem, challenging the previous Cabinet decision to outsource electronic visa issuance operations to private companies.

The petitions were heard before a bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice Achala Wengappuli, and Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere.

Presenting facts before court, the Additional Solicitor General said the current Cabinet has appointed a subcommittee to examine the legality of the agreements signed with private companies regarding the electronic visa system.

She informed court that the committee is currently reviewing the matter and requested additional time to provide an update on its progress.

During the proceedings, President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran said that although the current government has decided to cancel the transaction, the petitioners intend to continue with the case.

He further noted that members of the current Cabinet have been named as respondents in the petition.

Following the submissions, the Supreme Court directed the petitioners to take steps to issue notices to the relevant Cabinet members and ordered that the matter be taken up again on September 29.