| News |
||||
| British
visas: From fingerprint to face print Mr. Richard Pearce -Higginson, Head of Special Projects of the Home Office, who is in Sri Lanka to supervise the commencement of the scheme told The Sunday Times that a decision will be taken on completion of the fingerprinting project. "Once the pilot project is completed in six months, we may look into other methods such as facial recognition. We may do it but we have to first complete this project and then decide" he said. Last week the Home Office announced that everyone applying for a UK visa in Sri Lanka will be required to provide a record of their fingerprints as part of a project to use biometric data to tackle immigration. The project which will come into effect from Wednesday will provide for a special section where the applicant will first have to give his or her print. The applicant will be asked to place his or her right and left index finger on the machine. Behind a partition, a visa officer will get the print on the computer and the data will be stored. " One of the reasons we chose Sri Lanka was because it has a well organized mission. We had to do the minimal refurbishing, there is a lot of space. There were other countries but Sri Lanka was chosen" said Mr. Pearce-Higginson. However last week's decision has drawn criticism as countries such as Iraq, Somalia and Zimbabwe have been listed by the Home office in a report released for the 1st quarter of 2003, as those with the highest number seeking asylum. Fingerprinting will be exempted for children under five years, holders of diplomatic passports and those going on official business. Generally 8% of asylum seekers applications are accepted by the UK government. In the year 2002 there were 3180 applications from Sri Lanka out of which 325 were given asylum status and another 275 exempted leave to remain.. The statement issued by the Home Office says " Fingerprint data will be held electronically to help identify the significant number of ion in Colombo using electronic data capture equipment. Data would be stored electronically on a database and shared with police and other law enforcement agencies. "For an initial six months, we will collect fingerprints from everyone who applies for a visa in Sri Lanka. This will not only enable us to identify people who destroy their documents and then claim asylum under another name, but will also help us to obtain new travel documents to remove failed asylum seekers." Party
bosses to meet FM on guinea pig proposal The leaders who are scheduled to meet next week, are to ask for an appointment with the Foreign Minister. MEP Leader Dinesh Gunewardena told The Sunday Times that they hold the Government responsible for allowing such a scheme to be tested in Sri Lanka. " We are surprised the British High Commission has even asked the Government to use Sri Lanka for a pilot project. We have good relations with Britain. The decision will definitely strain relations between the two countries. We will meet the Foreign Minister and ask him to withdraw the approval" he said. JVP Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa told The Sunday Times that all parties have to support this as it is a serious threat to the country. "We have become guinea pigs. It is an insult on us, nowhere in the world will a government consent to such a proposal. If Sri Lanka was among the top ranking asylum seekers it is understandable but by consenting to the proposal we have been indicted as asylum seekers" he said. CC
to discuss change in selection procedure for top posts "Changes to the selection procedure cannot be made without discussing it with the Constitutional Council. Very soon, I shall summon a meeting of the Council to discuss the issue," Mr. Perera told The Sunday Times. The next meeting of the Council has been scheduled for September 15, Constitutional Council Secretary Dhammika Kitulgoda said. However, he said, the Speaker, if required, could summon a meeting prior to the scheduled date as only the Council can decide on any intended changes to the existing selection procedure. In a letter addressed to the Speaker last week, President Kumaratunga requested that the selection procedure by the Constitutional Council in respect of high posts be waived. She said the present system seemed to discourage prospective candidates and act as a deterrent. "I wish to kindly request the Council to consider a waiver of the present selection procedure, at least in respect of certain high posts, which continue to remain vacant for a long time due to the non-existence of applicants," the President said. The present
procedure demands that the applicant submit detailed information
regarding financial matters, assets and liabilities, police reports
among many others. Government spokesman Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the Government was in agreement with the President that the selection procedure needs to be simplified. "The present procedure adopted by the Constitutional Council requires a very meticulous and detailed examination of the records of the individuals who are being considered for these positions. The Government agrees with the President that certain changes in the procedures which have been developed by the Constitutional Council are undesirable." He also said that the Government was concerned about the delays in the appointment of Commissions. The cumbersome procedures has held up the appointment of a member to filling a vacancy to the Permanent Commission to Investigate Bribery and Corruption. The vacancy was created with the death of one of the members in February this year. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
