SC orders contempt charges against immigration chief

The Supreme Court has ordered that  contempt of court charges be filed against the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration for his failure to comply with a Court interim order to suspend the implementation of the electronic visa system.

The order was given when  a three-judge bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe, and Achala Wengappuli took up the motions filed regarding the non-implementation of the interim order given earlier.

The court instructed the petitioning party to draft the charges and submit them by September 25.

The Supreme Court had earlier summoned the Controller General to appear in person for failing to enforce the court’s order.

On August 2, the Supreme Court suspended the contract awarded to private consortiums IVS-GBS and VFS Global for visa issuance, after considering several Fundamental Rights petitions filed by opposition MPs M.A. Sumanthiran, Rauff Hakeem, and Patali Champika Ranawaka.

Several Fundamental Rights petitions were submitted to the Supreme Court, seeking legal action against procedural violations and the misuse of public trust by officials involved in the procurement of private entities to manage the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for issuing visas to tourists visiting Sri Lanka.