The Jana Aragala Sandhanaya (People's Struggle Alliance) lodged a complaint yesterday (19th) with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles.

The complaint pertains to allegations of serious fraud concerning the online visa issuance process, which was implemented from 2024.

Delegation of Power to Foreign Companies

According to the complaint, Tiran Alles, in his then-capacity as Minister of Public Security, submitted a proposal to the Cabinet on 11th September 2023 to grant the authority for online visa issuance to two private companies: GBS Technology Services & IVS Globe-FZCO and VF Worldwide Holding Ltd.

Pubudu Jayagoda, a national executive member of the Jana Aragala Sandhanaya, noted that the proposal suggested handing over the task because the companies had requested it, rather than initiating a proper procurement or tender process.

• Absence of Tenders: This task was previously handled by the majority state-owned Mobitel and Sri Lanka Telecom. However, no tender process was conducted when transferring this state-run function to private entities.
  
  

• Breach of Procurement Regulations: Audit reports have revealed that the Cabinet approval granted on 11th December 2023 also disregarded fundamental procurement regulations, such as ensuring competitive bidding and selecting the lowest price.

Price Hikes and Lost Government Revenue

The Jana Aragala Sandhanaya points out that visa fees nearly doubled following the introduction of the new system, with the additional revenue being lost to the government.

• Fee Increase: After 17th April 2024, the fee for obtaining an online visa for countries outside of the South Asian region increased from $55 to $100.77.
  
  

• Loss of Revenue: The complaint states that the entire increase of over $45 was lost to the government, resulting in a loss of foreign exchange and causing serious harm to the tourism industry.
  
  

• Tax Fraud: A special audit report from the National Audit Office has revealed that the Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) and Value Added Tax (VAT) collected by the companies between 17th April and 2nd August 2024 were not remitted to the Inland Revenue Department.
  
  

• Calculated Loss: The audit has calculated that the revenue lost to the government due to this tax fraud is approximately USD 1.41 million (USD 1,418,360).

Sovereign Power Handed to Private Companies

The authority to grant entry into a country's borders is a power vested in the state and is intrinsically linked to the sovereign power of the people. The Jana Aragala Sandhanaya argues that the Cabinet's decision to entrust this sovereign power to private companies raises suspicions of serious corruption.

The National Audit Office report has also recommended that measures be taken to calculate the financial loss incurred by the government and to recover these funds from the responsible parties.

Accordingly, the Jana Aragala Sandhanaya has requested the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to conduct a full investigation into former Minister Tiran Alles and to take appropriate legal action.

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