Cabinet Reviewing Legality of E-Visa Agreements, Attorney General Tells Supreme Court
The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to review the legality of agreements entered into by the previous Government to hand over Sri Lanka’s electronic visa issuance operations to private companies.
Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, made the submission when the Supreme Court heard the Fundamental Rights petitions filed by former MPs M. A. Sumanthiran, PC, and Patali Champika Ranawaka, along with MP Rauff Hakeem. The petitions challenge the previous Cabinet’s decision to outsource the electronic visa issuance process to private entities.
The matter was heard before a three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice Achala Wengappuli and Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere.
The Additional Solicitor General told the Court that the current Cabinet has appointed a subcommittee to examine the legality of the agreements entered into with the private companies involved in the e-visa project. He said the committee is currently reviewing the relevant documents and legal issues and sought additional time to report its findings to the Court.
Addressing the Bench, petitioner M. A. Sumanthiran said that although the present Government has decided to cancel the arrangement, the petitioners intend to proceed with the case. He pointed out that members of the current Cabinet have also been named as respondents in the petitions.
The Supreme Court directed the petitioners to issue notices to the current Cabinet members named as respondents and fixed September 29 for the next hearing of the case.
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