News

X-Press Pearl litigation process: Probe on bribing local official

Published

1 year ago

April 19, 2023

editor

Instructions have been given to launch an investigation into an incident of a local official being bribed in order to disrupt the litigation process to seek compensation from the insurers of the MV X-Press Pearl vessel, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said.

The X-Press Pearl vessel, which left the Hazira Port in India on May 20, 2021, caught fire near the Colombo Port on May 20.

There were 1,486 containers of nitric acid and other chemicals on board and many of them caught fire while many other containers sank.

It caused enormous damage to the coastal areas and ecosystems near Negombo.

Many parties questioned the government as to why the lawsuit has not yet been filed even though there is a possibility of obtaining a compensation of USD 6.2 billion from the shipping company.

According to experts, only 32 days are left to file a lawsuit.

Experts also questioned why the authorities decided to file a lawsuit in Singapore when they could have gained more advantage by starting the legal process in Sri Lanka.

Minister Rajapakshe said that he had received information that the insurance company of the ship had given a bribe of USD 250 million to an official in Sri Lanka to disrupt the process of seeking compensation from the insurers.

News

180 passports found dumped in a drain!

Published

9 mins ago

May 6, 2024

editor

A bag with 180 passports has been found in a drain in the Maharagama area.

According to reports, the passports had been obtained by a foreign employment agency operating in the Maharagama area, promising foreign employment.

It is reported that the owner of the agency had fled the area, after duping a number of people and swindling nearly Rs. 260 million.

News

Immigration Dept says their power of approving visa not impacted

Published

15 mins ago

May 6, 2024

editor

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has stated that the methodology of the present e-visa system has not impacted the Department’s power of approving, issuing or not issuing visa, mentioned in the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948.

In a detailed statement, shown below, the department has elaborated as follows :

MR_58_English Download

News

VFS issues statement on Sri Lanka E-visa

Published

20 mins ago

May 6, 2024

editor

VFS Global has issued a statement in response to clarify certain concerns which have been raised.

In the statement the company says the Department of Immigration & Emigration (DI&E) signed a tripartite contract with GBS Technology Services & IVS Global FZCO being the prime contractor and VFS Global being the technology partner for the Sri Lanka government’s new E-Visa solution. www.srilankaevisa.lk.

The company notes it manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to the application process only and the decision to grant or reject the visa is at the sole discretion of the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

VFS-Global-eVisa-final-statement Download