Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said that action will be taken against the person who caused a disturbance at the visa issuing section of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and the officers who recorded the incident.
The Minister said this during the special media briefing convened by him at the Public Security Ministry yesterday (6), to clarify the truth behind the controversial situation that has risen over the on-arrival visa facility at the visa section of the BIA.
Minister Alles said that VFS Global, which has been the subject of controversy regarding the issuing of on-arrival visas at the BIA, is not an Indian firm. He said that the proposal regarding the new visa system was passed unanimously on November 23, 2023, without debate, in Parliament.
The Minister said that the issue of visa fees was also part of the adopted proposals, but it was passed in November 2023, and it was not possible to implement the change through the ETA or Electronic Travel Approval system, and therefore they had to wait until April 17 this year to do it, through the VFS system.
Minister Alles said that due to the errors prevalent in the ETA system, they had worked towards changing the system.
The Minister emphasised that VFS Global is an international company that is predominantly owned by the Blackstone Group.
Meanwhile, the Minister also mentioned that the VFS Global has issued an announcement regarding the controversial situation.
Minister Alles dismissed claims made by a Sri Lankan passenger at the BIA, the video of which was circulated in social media, that the visa issuing company was an Indian institution. The Minister said that at that time, 13 Sri Lankans were working as employees at the visa counters, and he has the names and personal details of those employees who worked that night at the visa counters.
Minister Alles said that VFS Global cannot take any action regarding the issuance or rejection of visas and said that decisions regarding the issuance and rejection of visas are made only by the Immigration Department of Sri Lanka.
The Minister said that although the protest regarding the issuance of on-arrival visas by this company was raised on or around May 1, VFS Global started its operations at the airport premises on April 17.
Minister Alles further said that the Cabinet of Ministers had received a proposal four years ago to establish such a visa issuing institution within the BIA.
Speaking further to the media, Minister Alles said,
“That story was only about the US$ 75 on-arrival visa which is a six-month visa and a double entry visa. But there was a small mistake that was made on our part. We had the 30-day visa for US$ 50. When we passed this, it could not be put into the system. That’s why I had to go back to Parliament as we cannot publish a gazette without going to Parliament. It will be in the system from tomorrow (7). A single entry visa is US$50 for 30 days.”
“We were sent a proposal regarding VFS. Everyone who travels abroad knows what VFS is. It is a company that is used by 67 governments in 151 countries in about 3,300 centres. There is almost no one else to compete with that service of VFS. They are the number one in the world. Every country in the world uses VFS. There was an allegation that VFS is an Indian company and that the Indians were sitting at the visa counters at the airport.
“I looked it up. VFS is not an Indian company and Blackstone is the major shareholder of VFS. VFS will release an announcement today (6) about who they are and what they are going to do in Sri Lanka. The issue started on May 1 and those employees who were at the visa counters that day were not Indians, but Sri Lankans.
I have the list of names and 13 employees are from Sri Lanka. The one who shouted said that these are Indians. Also VFS cannot issue visas and cannot reject visas. Issuing and rejecting visas is done only by the Immigration and Emigration office. VFS only checks documents.”
