News
Visa controversy: SJB alleges Tiran Alles misled Parliament
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Chief Opposition whip and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella has said the Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles, misled Parliament in November 2023 about increasing visa fees.
Kiriella told The Island that he would make a special statement today (07) on the issue.
“I will make the statement after question time in Parliament. I hope Minister Tiran Alles will be there. Alles was not in Parliament when the Easter Sunday debate took place. I hope he will be there on Tuesday,” Kirielle said.
Earlier, in the day, the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles said that Parliament had unanimously approved the government’s proposal to increase visa fees in November 2023.
Speaking at a press conference in Colombo on the recent controversy about VFS Global operating the On Arrival visa counter at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Alles said that they had made an error with regards to the visa fee.
“We only had a 30-day visa available for those who sought the online visa facility. Now, we have introduced 17 visa categories to those who avail the online service. Among this is a category of visa where you can enter twice in six months. There is also a one-year visa, five-year visa and a 10-year visa. Cabinet approved this proposal and Parliament ratified it without a debate on 23 November 2023. There is now a controversy about the visa fee of 75 dollars for one category. But this, too, was approved by Parliament,” he said.
Alles added that the implementation of the new scheme had been postponed until 17 April as the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system required modification.
“We had to wait until the VFS platform was set up. However, we have made one mistake. We have not put the one month single entry visa (for 50 dollars) into the system.”
The Minister said VFS Global was a leading company in the world, he said.
“This is not an Indian company. Blackstone is the main shareholder. There were no Indians at the counters at the On Arrival counter at the airport. VFS also can’t issue visas, it only collects biometrics.”
Alles said several other local companies had previously tried to overhaul the ETA system, unsuccessfully.
“The Cabinet then approved the VFS proposal after serious and in-depth consultations. This was taken up by the Cabinet twice,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
