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prevented from asking questions at High Commission demo Reports from London state that the Amnesty International is to take up the matter with the relevant authorities at the Home office in London. However Foreign Affairs Minister Tyronne Fernando told The Sunday Times that when a friendly country makes a request we are unable to refuse. "We have to understand that granting of visas is purely at the discretion of the issuing country and that they can at any time even stop issuing any more visas. These are days when various methods are used for better identification, it could be the eyes, the face or the signature, fingerprinting is just another method an applicant would have to comply with when obtaining a visa" Mr. Fernando said. The Minister added that the government approved the request made by UK on the basis that it was to be a pilot project which came into operation last Wednesday and will be gradually introduced and implemented in other countries too. "The British High Commission was not using the usual method of using ink in this new form of finger printing but it was a technique known as biometrics. When we were informed by the UK Government of the method being used and the reasons why this kind of identification was being used we found no reason to object and further it was to be gradually introduced to other parts of the world as well. The misconception as arisen due to the fact that when we speak of finger printing we are usually conditioned to think only of criminals and it should be clearly understood that this system has no such connotations it is merely a preventive measure to nab illegal immigrants. Once this system is enforced it will be possible to better screen visa applicants and distinguish the genuine from the bogus", Foreign Affairs Minister Tyronne Fernando said. However Lakshman Kadirgamar a former Foreign Minister criticised the government on acceding to this request made by Britain and said that he would have handled the matter differently. "If I was approached with such a request I would have tackled it differently, I would have opposed the move in the first instance and would have raised a number of points as to why this should not be adopted. Though I am only too painfully aware of the limitations of a small country, still I did not hesitate to speak out when and where necessary aware that sucess or failure was quite another matter. I was firmly of the view that even a small country such as ours must at all times maintain its pride and dignity" Mr. Kadirgamar said. The Opposition has strongly criticised the Government for allowing Britain to implement this system at the British High Commission in Colombo. Prior to the commencement of the new system the British High Commission in Colombo gave an opportunity to the media to witness the system in operation. However the media were barred from questioning the UK special projects officer who is currently in Sri Lanka and the only questions allowed was related to the technique used. The High Commission clearly stated that it was only a photo opportunity thus raising further questions as to the basis on which Sri Lanka was used for the pilot project. The criticisms regarding the use of Sri Lanka sounded questionable when considering the fact that the UK Home Office has listed countries such as Iraq, Somalia and Zimbabwe as those with the highest number of asylum seekers for the 1st Quarter of 2003. A statement issued by the Home Office two weeks ago states that "Fingerprint data will be recorded electronically to help identify the significant number of Sri Lankans who on or after arrival in the UK, make fraudulent asylum or immigration applications using a false identity. Fingerprints will be collected from applicants at the British Diplomatic Mission in Colombo using electronic data capturing equipment. Data would be stored electronically on a database and shared with police and other law enforcement agencies". The statement went on to say "for an initial period of 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 issue new travel documents to those who are disallowed asylum".
Don't
ask too many questions Not
the best of places It is very doubtful as to what exactly these children stand to gain by being exposed to the type of behaviour some MPs are known for. Maybe those who arrange these 'educational' tours should take the young children to places better suited for their age where they could learn something worthwhile. Speaking
out does not pay Fingerprints
for lesser mortals Presidential
adviser Lakshman Kadirgamar who was answering most of the questions
when asked if the PA came to power and talks with the LTTE were
resumed and Mr. Kadiragamar's reaction to comments made by Dr. Balasingham
during an interview wher it was stated that both the President and
Mr. Kadiragamar should travel abroad for the purpose of getting
the ban on the LTTE removed had said, "One serious problem
exists if we are to visit that particular destination is we would
have to be fingerprinted first and as such going there may not be
possible". The BBC Correspondent present at the news conference
responded to this saying "Diplomatic passport holders are exempted. |
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