Ranjan leaves for US

Published

2 years ago

October 29, 2022

editor

Former Member of Parliament Ranjan Ramanayake who received Presidential Pardon last month has left the island for the United States.

Ranjan Ramanayake left the Katunayake International Airport at around 3.50 on a Doha bound flight.

He is expected to attend several concerts in the US and Canada.

Ranjan Ramanayake was prevented from boarding a flight and leaving the country on Thursday night due to a travel ban imposed on him.

Airport officials confirmed that he had obtained an order to lift the ban and cleared immigration.

Officials on Thursday said Ranjan Ramanayake was turned back as a travel ban had been imposed by court in relation to two cases pending against him.

On the 26th of August, President Ranil Wickremesinghe signed the document granting Ranjan Ramanayake Presidential Pardon.

He left Welikada Prison on the same day.

On the 12th of January 2021, Ranjan Ramanayake was sentenced to a four-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court on charges of contempt of court.

He was accused of the charge over making a statement to media following a meeting at the Temple Trees on the 21st of August 2017 defaming judges and attorneys in the country.

Prof. Nalin de Silva no more

Published

5 hours ago

May 2, 2024

editor

Philosopher, intellectual and academician Professor Nalin de Silva has passed away at the age of 79. Prof. de Silva initially served as a professor in the Department of Mathematics and later as the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya.

He was also a former member of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

In addition to his academic pursuits, de Silva also worked as a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Myanmar.

News

‘Company issuing visa at BIA not Indian or Indian based’

Published

10 hours ago

May 2, 2024

editor

The Indian High Commission in Colombo has issued a statement over reports of Indian companies taking over visa issuance at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.

The statement notes “companies referred to in these reports are not India based or Indian and are headquartered elsewhere. Any reference to India in this context is unwarranted.”

News

Chaos at BIA raises questions (Video)

Published

11 hours ago

May 2, 2024

nipuni

Questions have been raised after chaos at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake last night (May 01) has sparked widespread outrage.

This is with regard to a controversial takeover of the on-arrival visa issuance process at BIA by an Indian company – VFS Global since yesterday evening.

It is learnt that the company has levied an extra $25 alongside the standard $75 fee.

Long lines of frustrated travellers were also seen at the airport for several hours, which is a stark difference to the procedure smoothly managed in a matter of mere minutes by the Immigration and Emigration Department in the past.

Footage of a Sri Lankan citizen expressing outrage over Indian nationals deciding visa matters for fellow Sri Lankans, has also been making rounds on social media.

Although 10 Sri Lankan and Indian officers had commenced work from 5.00pm yesterday, the lines remained well over 9.00pm. Amid tensions, higher officials of the BIA and security forces had also arrived at the premises.

At 11.30pm the company officials temporarily suspended issuing visas and left the BIA with the money collected, reports say.

Upon the directive of the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration – Harsha Ilukpitiya, Immigration officers have commenced their usual duties with no issues since then, enabling the previous process to continue smoothly.

Concerns have been raised over the lack of transparency in this arrangement.