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e-passports : Minister decides to suspend EOIs & call for Tenders

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Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has decided to suspend the Expression of Interest (EOI) with regard to the issuance of electronic passports or ‘e-passport’ and call for Tenders.

The Ministry says that Cabinet approval has been granted for a paper tabled by Minister Alles to appoint a special technical evaluation committee for the related matter and to call for a new Tender to issue ‘e-passport’ considering the current economic situation.

EOIs were initially called for the issuing of ‘e-passports’ and many applicants had complained to the Ministry of certain technical difficulties in the process.

Accordingly, Minister Alles has canceled the call for bids for EOI and decided to call for Tenders through the normal procurement process.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the Ministry said that over 700,000 e-passports should be issued during a year, which will cost around USD 15 million.

The official added that millions of USD had to be spent on the machines used to issue the passports and that the issuance of e-passports has also become difficult due to the high cost.

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Landslide warnings for several areas

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The National Building and Research Organisation (NBRO) has extended the early landslide warnings issued to multiple areas in eight districts, as heavy rainfall continues in parts of the island.

The NBRO says that the warnings will be in effect until 4.00 pm tomorrow (Nov. 07).

Accordingly, a Level 1 (Amber) warning has been issued for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) and surrounding areas in the Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara and Ratnapura districts as follows:

Badulla – Welimada, Haldummulla DSDs and surrounding areas
Galle – Elpitiya DSD and surrounding areas
Kalutara – Bulathsinhala DSD and surrounding areas
Kandy – Udapalatha and Yatinuwara DSDs and surrounding areas
Kegalle – Rambukkana and Mawanella DSDs and surrounding areas
Kurunegala – Polgahawela DSD and surrounding areas
Matara – Pasgoda, Akuressa and Kotapola DSDs and surrounding areas
Ratnapura – Godakawela, Imbulpe, Nivithigala, Openayake, Elapatha, Balangoda, Kalawana, Ayagama, Pelmadulla, Kiriella and Kahawatta DSDs and surrounding areas

Meanwhile, a Level 2 (Yellow) warning was issued for the following areas:

Kegalle – Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella, Dehiowita, Yatiyanthota, Kegalle, Galigamuwa, Bulathkohupitiya, Warakapola and Aranayake DSDs and surrounding areas

Ratnapura – Ratnapura, Kuruwita and Eheliyagoda DSDs and surrounding areas

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RW named respondent as court to review injunction against e-passport purchase

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been named as a respondent of the writ petition filed with the Court of Appeal challenging the previous government’s decision to purchase passports from two foreign companies.

Wickremesinghe has been named as a respondent of the relevant writ petition filed by Epic Lanka Private Limited, through a motion submitted by the petitioning party, when the petition was taken up before the two-member Appeals Court judge bench comprising Justices Mohammed Laffar and P. Kumaratnam today (06).

During the hearing, the attorneys who appeared for the two foreign companies named as respondents stated that their clients have been critically prejudiced through the interim injunction issued by the court preventing the purchase of 5 million e-passports.

The attorneys, who pointed out that the relevant injunction will be in effect until the hearings of the petition are concluded, requested the court to issue an order lifting the injunction.

Meanwhile, appearing for the petitioning party, President’s Council Viran Corea argued that the process of purchasing the passports in question has been carried out under an informal procurement system.

Furthermore, the President’s Counsel objected to the lifting of the injunction issued, requesting for an expedited conclusion of the hearing of the petition and for a final verdict to be issued.

Following the consideration of the facts presented, the bench ordered the petitioning party to file objections related to the request to lift the injunction preventing the purchase of passports. 

Later, the case was also ordered to be recalled on December 09 for the consideration of facts on whether or not the injunction should be lifted.

The petition has been filed by Epic Lanka Private Limited seeking an order invalidating the decision taken by the previous government to purchase 750,000 normal passports and 5 million e-passports from two foreign firms.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Prime Minister meets Anti Corruption officials of ICC

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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya recently met with key figures from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), including Mr. Sumathi Dharmawardena, President’s Counsel, the newly appointed Independent Chair of the ICC ACU, and Mr. Alex Marshall, (CBE, QPM) General Manager of Integrity and Human Resources, ICC.

During the discussion, Mr. Alex Marshall noted Sri Lanka’s progress in combating corruption in cricket over the past seven years, emphasizing the importance of player education and strengthening the Ministry of Sports’ Special Investigations.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Andrew Ephgrave, Senior Manager, of ICC ACU Operations; Mr. Vije Bandara, Senior Attorney and Director General of Legal at the President’s Office; Mrs. Illeperuma, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Sports; and Prof. Shemal Fernando, Director General of Sports.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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