Fmr. Minister Aluthgamage prevented from leaving country at BIA

12 March 2023 09:52 am - 23 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Two officers of the Immigration Department have been suspended after former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was prevented from travelling abroad at Katunayake Airport citing a travel ban.

The former minister arrived at the BIA on Friday night to leave the country on a personnel visit, but was stopped from proceeding through by the immigration officers stating there is a foreign travel ban imposed by the Matugama court.

Accordingly, Aluthgamage has cancelled his foreign trip. However, the MP informed them that no such case or foreign travel ban has been imposed against him by the Matugama court.

The former minister had informed the matter to the Controller General of Immigration and found that incident had occurred due to an error in the data system.

He informed the former minister that he would be granted permission to travel abroad after rectifying the error in the system.

The controller general said an investigation will be conducted on Monday on this and two Immigration officials who were on duty at the time were suspended pending investigations.

Aluthgamage was previously banned from traveling abroad by the Colombo High Court, but he took steps to lift the relevant ban after presenting the facts to the court. (DSB)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 23

Tharan K Sunday, 12 March 2023 10:12 AM

if the system was wrong sack those who are in charge of it. Not the officers who acted according to the information that they had. What a bana repulic we have become. Bans, lifting of bans, corruption cases, getting exonerated.. the drama continues. Soon we have to put an end to all these by electing JVP!

Ama Sunday, 12 March 2023 10:42 AM

Why suspending Immigration officials because it was due to System Error? Anyway hope it be solved without any political interference.

Data is guilty not the officer who do their job Sunday, 12 March 2023 10:10 PM

If officials did their job as they were expected, by the book and denied the man based on what was on the system what is the problem? Yes, this seems like a big punish the innocent because they follow instructions.

Kingsley Wijesinhe Sunday, 12 March 2023 10:49 AM

The two Immigration officers were only doing their duty according to the data available to them in the system. If there was an error in the system, why have they been suspended?

Nihal S Sunday, 12 March 2023 11:29 AM

"Two Immigration officials who were on duty at the time were suspended pending investigations". The authorities are so quick to punish the officers - who followed the immigration data base records. Would this have happened in case of a such actions related to a normal person travel? Respect those officials on duty for following the rules without bending to political power.

Reformist Sunday, 12 March 2023 12:12 PM

If it is an error in the data system, why the hell do you suspend the officers? If anything, the two officers must be commended for stopping him. If it is the data error, fix the error, don't punish the officers who did the right thing. This Immigration Controller is an idiot. He is the one who should be punished. Justice in SL style, no surprise there.

Confused Sunday, 12 March 2023 12:14 PM

If it's a "system error", is it the fault of the two officers or is it the fault of the person/s in charge of updating the system???

johan Sunday, 12 March 2023 12:23 PM

If it is an error in the data system why the immigrations officials suspended.

Sambo Sunday, 12 March 2023 12:47 PM

So if you that it was a system failure then why suspend the two officials. In Sri Lanka there is always two laws when it comes to politicians and public. I respect the two officials for doing their job.

Aram Sunday, 12 March 2023 01:33 PM

It's totally wrong decision take by controller general that two officers have been suspended. It is the system error not the mistake by immigration officials. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere - Abrahal Linghan

Citizen k Sunday, 12 March 2023 01:48 PM

Please don't punish the officers for doing their job.Correct the error.

Gagana Sunday, 12 March 2023 02:39 PM

Kudos to the 2 honorable immigration officers! If there was a error in the data system, they are not at fault. Release them asap!

Nimal Sunday, 12 March 2023 03:19 PM

How is it the fault of the two immigration officers? It is good to see them doing their job irrespective of the person or politician. If anyone should be suspended it should be the Controller General of Immigration for having inaccurate systems.

Mahila Sunday, 12 March 2023 09:47 PM

Controller GENERAL of Immigration doesn’t know whose fault, in the first place??? Or the Committee of Inquiry!!!?? What crime did the 2 Immigration officials do, than following the letter of the Law and information in the system!!??? If Computer information is incorrect or not updated, suspend Data entry officials for non-performance!!! These are the Public service Officers credited in RUNNING THE COUNTRY!!?? NO WONDER sl IS BANKRUPT!!?? Because of this BANKRUPT and POLITICALLY INFLUENCED Public service Heads!!?? Yes Sir! No Sir with no rationality??? NEXT TIME, OFFICIALS WOULD ALLOW THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BARRED! BENEFIT CRIMINALS!

Ram Sunday, 12 March 2023 04:00 PM

For an error in the Data system two employees who acted on the data had to pay the price. Is this justifiable? This looks like a King Kakille decision.

Mahen Sunday, 12 March 2023 04:22 PM

What is wrong with the Controller General? Is he that stupid? If it is an error in the data system, correct the system. It is totally wrong to suspend the immigration officials when they were doing the right thing. They were doing their job right! Who cares whether it was a former Minister or not? There should be rule of law and no one is above the law.

LK Sunday, 12 March 2023 04:26 PM

Don't make politics out of it ..all politicians must obey the rules and they are not immune from any rule..do not anger immigration officers ..After all; if they join trade unionists to go ahead with their strike it would cripple the country

LK Sunday, 12 March 2023 04:26 PM

Don't make politics out of it ..all politicians must obey the rules and they are not immune from any rule..do not anger immigration officers ..After all; if they join trade unionists to go ahead with their strike it would cripple the country

Tissa Fernando Sunday, 12 March 2023 04:55 PM

Aluthgamage should be asked to pay back dollars paid for chineese organic fertiliser before he is allowed to go abroad.

VJ Sunday, 12 March 2023 07:00 PM

What a sorry state we are in. Somebody responsible to update the data did not do his/her job. There is no accountability anywhere in our system.

Yusuf Sunday, 12 March 2023 09:10 PM

Who will suspend the Controller of Immigration for the wrong ful conduct of susoending two immigration officers who did no wrong?

Jacoob hell hole Monday, 13 March 2023 03:08 AM

This is nothing other than future escape routes being made seamless ... Once paradise now hell hole .. Enjoy fellow citizens ....

Mahila Monday, 13 March 2023 08:38 AM

Controller GENERAL of Immigration doesn’t know whose fault, in the first place??? Or the Committee of Inquiry!!!?? What crime did the 2 Immigration officials do, than following the letter of the Law and information in the system!!??? If Computer information is incorrect or not updated, suspend Data entry officials for non-performance!!! These are the Public service Officers credited in RUNNING THE COUNTRY!!?? NO WONDER sl IS BANKRUPT!!?? Because of this BANKRUPT and POLITICALLY INFLUENCED Public service Heads!!?? Yes Sir! No Sir with no rationality??? NEXT TIME, OFFICIALS WOULD ALLOW THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BARRED! BENEFIT CRIMINALS!

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Fmr. Minister Aluthgamage prevented from leaving country at BIA

Comments - 23

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

New Visa procedure implemented

MIRROR CRICKET

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Debt Restructuring Talks: Bondholders Fear Regime Change Impact

Don’t be deceived by NPP and Cardinal Ranjith: UNP

Emirates halts check-in for connections, UL cancels flights to Dubai

Plans afoot to obtain “Blue Flag Beaches” certification for SL beaches

Hardik fined Rs 12 lakh for violating IPL code of conduct after win over Punjab Kings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings