Sat, 18 May 2024 Today's Paper

No tender calling required: Minister Tiran Alles

4 May 2024 08:03 am - 58     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, May 4 (Daily Mirror) - Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, in response to allegations about the tender process, said there is no such requirement to call for tenders because these are the only companies involved in e-visa processing in different countries.

He said once the proposal came, a committee was appointed to study it and the report was submitted to the Cabinet. The minister said he got Cabinet approval for it after that. “whatever visa fee is collected, it will be returned to the government. The visa rates were approved by Parliament unanimously in terms of regulations earlier. 

Even the opposition, crying foul over this matter, endorsed it in Parliament at that time. The outsourced company will only receive additional charges for the services they provide. I will have a press conference on Monday upon my return from Singapore and deal with all outstanding allegations,” he said.


  Comments - 58

  • T Ran Ben Ovr Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:15 AM

    I thought there were Sri Lankans needing jobs? So why is this moron giving jobs to Indians?

    Roy Berman Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:25 AM

    What a dumb decision. Vfs is a company do data / document processing company. Not a visa issuing company. How this company take a decision on to whom can and cannot come to SL.

    Mahila Saturday, 04 May 2024 01:00 PM

    NOT DUMB at all, but sensible decision, to permit VISITORS and TOURIST visa seekers to afford facility to 'APPLY and OBTAIN, VALID VISA to visit Lanka from the comfort of their HOME, IRRESPECTIVE of it's Location, Worldwide, and visit Sri Lanka, 'WITHOUT STRESS' of having to STAND in a queue at BIA lounge on arrival and DO SO!!?? WHY CAN'T these 'Nincompoops' DISCERN the BENEFIT to Visitors, Which WOULD IMPEL GREATER NUMBER to VISIT, as TOURISTS, knowing the STRESS of "STANDING in a QUEUE", is NO more to obtain ENTRY Tourist Visa!!!??? Or are they ILLITERATE, to understand that fact!!!???

    Hassanda Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:25 AM

    Another Adolf Hitler in Sri Lanka - God Bless SLanka and save its citizen from Such Dictator’s like T Alles

    Nodaking kalakanni Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:26 AM

    Something very fishy is going on with these criminals in government. Pack clean sarongs and a toothbrush because you will be joining keheliya.

    Gabriella Saturday, 04 May 2024 03:56 PM

    Keep criticising the only possible alternative government ( NPP/ JVP) and rehash all their skeletons in the cupboard and, vote for the same criminals and then ponder why nothing changes.

    Ranil rajapaksa criminal syndicate Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:30 AM

    Kick these self-serving scum out before they make the country unliveable.

    Ravi Hulugalle Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:33 AM

    I will vote for any party that will jail these crooks and confiscate their ill-gotten assets. I guess that can only be NPP.

    Dr Jayantha Saturday, 04 May 2024 01:38 PM

    That will be one of the main reasons I will vote for NPP. Enough is enough

    Riza Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:36 AM

    We know all of you guys want to rob our country

    Brutus is an honorable man! Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:39 AM

    Oh Minister! We believe you and whatever your buddies say, because you all are honorable men!

    Nilmini Welivita Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:42 AM

    And who paid for your visit to Singapore? This man should be thoroughly investigated.

    Christo255 Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:51 AM

    Ah well very arrogant. Let's wait till October and then you need to answer for these things

    Sokrates Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:54 AM

    The Public Security Minister, a millionaire who does dirty business in the UK and Sri Lanka and is involved in money laundering. The man who negotiated the deal with the LTTE on MR's orders so that people in the north and east could not vote. The man who is involved in drug business along with his convicted IGP friend and started Operation Yukthiya only to eliminate competitors in the drug trade. Now he has also given the police carte blanche to use firearms. How can Ranil tolerate such a Felon in the cabinet? Since he knows that he has no chance of comming into the next parliament, he quickly arranged the visa deal. For each visa issued, he is guaranteed to receive several dollars. A lot comes together there.

    Sam Sunday, 05 May 2024 08:14 AM

    127 million cheque which was authorised by Saliya Wickramasinha .

    Don Saturday, 04 May 2024 08:55 AM

    Isn’t this lot has to be sent home. It doesn’t matter only a few companies are providing these services. There should be an open tender process. A new company may come into the mix with a better service, better expertise to a reasonable price. You can trial them rather than allowing monopoly of a handful of companies. These are corrupted politicians and idiotic as well. People… why are you getting hoodwinked every time? Chase them away. Anyone else is better than the tried lot. You will not lose anything by doing that only a gain as we are at rock bottom.

    Jayawardena Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:07 AM

    Alles, Of course once you have the power, you are the god and not accountable to the people any more. If you want to come clean, explain the SL public and the all other who have to pay additional $75 (or a lot more than before) as a result of your great idea approved by the cabinet honchos, (1) Why and in what way the SL Im/EM service provided from 1948 failed and inferior to the service provided by the new company? What benefits we receive by paying a lot more for our VISA when compared with the service provided by the SL Im/EM service? None f the other two government ministers talk to the media so far, failed to address this main point.

    Thurai Murugan Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:08 AM

    The politicians in all countries believe they are above law. From Biden who promises he will stand by Israel even if they commit atrocities to this clown who thinks that he can charge extra $25 using the Indian company

    Crackpots deciding our future Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:08 AM

    A lawful and transparent procedure must be followed for decisions concerning national resources. No individual has the authority to make arbitrary decisions, regardless of their ego or position.

    VJ Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:12 AM

    Is the minister saying, Sri Lanka does not have adequate competence to process visas. Job opportunities lost and tourist have to pay more to obtain visas on arrival. How does this help promote tourism???

    Mayura Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:14 AM

    He has mislead the cabinet,RW and the whole parliament. Without a tender how can you proceed such a thing in government. He should be sent to same place as Keheliya. He has no experience as a minister before and look at the issues he is creating for the country. He has a very bad reputation with so many behind the scene stuff. Giving money to terrorists, investment using shell companies and now this scandle. When mobitel had a zero cost plan he opted to go with a Indian company so that he may be getting a cut. RW should sack him at least to save tourism sector.

    Terrence K Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:19 AM

    Whilst a tender process may not be necessary as stated by you aren't you aware the predicament the country is facing in bankruptcy. Common sense would have necessitated that the local company who has developed a software program which is in operation with the Immigration should have been continued with a view of conserving the dollars saved from the service charge to a foreign organisation and our unemployed youth which consists of a high percentage could have been mobilized in functioning to do the initial work as the final endorsement was by the Immigration. This is food for thought for dull brains!!!!!!!!

    Tissa Fernando Saturday, 04 May 2024 03:14 PM

    It was Gota who always encouraged local resources to be used every where possible. It was his time when the eVisa system was introduced and they were charging only USD 20.

    jude Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:43 AM

    If Mobitel can handle the previous e-visa, how can you say VFS global is the only company that can perform this? Why did you act on an unsolicited proposal from VFS global without government advertising such a requirement to the public? How can you say VFS global is the only company that can perform this service without advertising this requirement for other companies to look into? There should be a law that gives priority for local companies that can fulfil the requirement before awarding a contract to a foreign company.

    Duminda Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:52 AM

    Wake up Sri Lanka. Timw to send these morans back home soonest possible. Otherwise you'll have to pack bags to migrate. Only two choices remains now.

    Gasbuwa Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:54 AM

    I mean, is this a justification by a responsible governance? They are thr only ones doing it? Who did it earlier? Why a local company cant do this? Then why are they charging additional 25 dollars per person????? This is absolute 1940's German governance stance. Some people feel they are power.

    Potta Harry Saturday, 04 May 2024 10:04 AM

    A great teacher may always not be a good father who will bring up his children with good moral values. Here is a classic example. The motto of DS founded by RIT is "County before self". But for this guy "Money before anything".

    wickrama wijayasiri Saturday, 04 May 2024 10:05 AM

    If you are referring to 'These Are' it means that there is more than one, requiring competitive bidding. Appears that despite of operating an international school, your father did not teach English grammar.

    june macapagal Saturday, 04 May 2024 10:08 AM

    This guy is probably getting Commission from VFS and he has givn this job to them

    Mahesh Saturday, 04 May 2024 10:17 AM

    Why outsource to a foreign company? Do we have full employment? Visa fees are sky high and very quickly you are going to see the impact in tourists arrivals in future- This is the only industry keeping us alive.

    John Fernando Saturday, 04 May 2024 10:28 AM

    I really cannot understand why such small things are taken out from our departments and outsourced? Will Sri Lanka benefitted from it or some private parties? SJB/NPP what will be your status if you come to power in less than 165 days?

    Old Man Saturday, 04 May 2024 10:29 AM

    Absolutely true. One cannot his work with the LTTE in the RADA matter.

    B P Saturday, 04 May 2024 10:43 AM

    Every thing is "Cabinet Approved". Are there any which do not get the cabinet approval? Any thing can happen with a "Cabinet" which was not approved by the poeple.

    Sunakhaya Saturday, 04 May 2024 11:27 AM

    12 dollars from each visitor to Alles

    Ganesh Saturday, 04 May 2024 11:58 AM

    All that VFS does is collect the documents on their website and send it for processing to SL Immigration. It's the SL Immigration that issues a Visa. What guarantee does VFS is provide to safe guard confidential information. This could have been done by SLT or any Sri Lankan Company for that fact. Yet this Buffoon of a Minister decides to give it to VFS. VFS customer service is the worst. We could have followed Singapore, you arrive approach the immigration counter after paying your visa entry fee at a Kiosk.

    L Jaya Saturday, 04 May 2024 12:34 PM

    Unreustworthy, stubborn rogue this person who handles the police portfolio. All lies, he thinks that he can do anything even going against constitution and accepted norms

    jamal Saturday, 04 May 2024 12:37 PM

    Cabinet Approved means its approved by ministers like Haren

    Jayantha Saturday, 04 May 2024 01:21 PM

    He has mislead the cabinet and parliament just like Keheliya. Born rogue. RW should sack him immediately to save any remaining face of the government.

    Rip Winkle Saturday, 04 May 2024 12:56 PM

    I'm waiting. Just waiting for the elections.

    Amaree Saturday, 04 May 2024 01:09 PM

    I am 100% SURE, the President will not conduct any investigation to this Corrupt dealing because all he wants is support from these crooks to win the next election. We are expecting NPP to focus more on these delaings when they come to office in another 5 months time.

    Bandara Saturday, 04 May 2024 01:10 PM

    Please understand the cabinet is not approved by the people of this country. May be some pottuwa fellows must be supporting the cabinet.

    Ama Saturday, 04 May 2024 01:13 PM

    If the procedure says that TENDER PROCEDURE SHOULD BE FOLLOWED then it must be adhered to. Then only we know how much each quote in return for the service. CORRUPTION.

    Buddhist Sunday, 05 May 2024 03:13 AM

    Yes, tenders are not required as "santhosams" are being paid!

    Wije Saturday, 04 May 2024 01:29 PM

    Is Sri Lankans not capable to handle this service , this would have offered to our own company

    Suresh Saturday, 04 May 2024 02:19 PM

    Allegic reaction to tenders as usual.

    Bermuda Saturday, 04 May 2024 02:33 PM

    You moron. You mess up everything you fiddle with. It's time you get lost. Go do something useful somewhere else. You are a disgrace to your country.

    To IMF Saturday, 04 May 2024 02:46 PM

    To IMF, please don't release the third tranche untill President takes concrete action to eradicate CORRUPTION by his cabinet

    DJ Saturday, 04 May 2024 02:50 PM

    Of course you got your bribe cut. So who cares.

    Pathmaranjan Perera Saturday, 04 May 2024 03:50 PM

    This man is incredibly corrupted.

    Aram Saturday, 04 May 2024 03:56 PM

    Immigration department must be given again full control of issuing visas and collecting money and send direct to treasury. People or officials don't like work under private companies at all

    Gune Saturday, 04 May 2024 04:09 PM

    A man with a low IQ.

    Upulpb Saturday, 04 May 2024 04:14 PM

    We are the most expensive country in the region as far as Visa fee is concerned and why should a visitor pay extra charges to a 3rd party in addition to the stipulated government visa fees. These morans only think about how much is in to their pockets

    Ram Saturday, 04 May 2024 05:26 PM

    This shows the arrogance of Tiran. The Company can be a quality one, but there can be more quality companies and if tenders were called we stood a chance to receive competitive tenders. After all it is public money Tiran is playing with.

    Horagediyaa Saturday, 04 May 2024 06:01 PM

    WHY THE PREVIOUS MOBITEL APP CANT DO IT ANYMORE, WHICH CHARGED ONLY 1 DOLLAR AS A SERVICE CHARGE?????? AS THERE WAS NO CUT FOR YOU??

    dana Saturday, 04 May 2024 09:27 PM

    This politician must have cut out of this deal,

    Lanki Sunday, 05 May 2024 03:15 AM

    Similar to the bond scam funded by the last UNP election campaign, these non-tender deals will fund the UNP coalition this time.

    Voice of Expat Sunday, 05 May 2024 10:58 AM

    Leaving everything aside, there are still people (I can't believe they have a brain) who believe that the MR and RW clans bring prosperity to the country.

    Sambo Monday, 06 May 2024 08:16 AM

    This committee were they sitting on their brains to allow another country to carry sensitive data of of other people and at the same time increase the price of a visa while we are begging for tourist to come to this country. This regime is only working for their personal gains.


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