News

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

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2023

editor

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.

News

Revised pensions to be granted from this month

Published

26 seconds ago

July 3, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government has announced that the revised pensions approved under the recent Budget will be implemented starting this month.

Minister – Prof. Chandana Abeyratne has stated that more than 500,000 retired public sector employees will benefit from the increased pension payment.

News

Rajitha & Wimal fail to appear before CIABOC

Published

5 minutes ago

July 3, 2025

editor

Former Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development – Rajitha Senaratne has not appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday (July 02), citing ill health.

He faces charges of causing a financial loss to the government by allegedly awarding a sand mining project at the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour to a Korean company, bypassing government procurement procedures.

The CIABOC’s Special Investigations Chief Inspector had formally summoned Senaratne to provide a statement at 9.00 am yesterday, but one of his lawyers submitted a letter claiming Senaratne was unwell and therefore unable to attend.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Construction and Housing – Wimal Weerawansa was also summoned to give a statement regarding investigations into the sale of certain shops during his tenure.

He too has requested a new date, stating that he is unable to appear on the scheduled day.

(Source: Dinamina)

News

Court summons ex-AGM of People’s bank over major fraud

Published

1 hour ago

July 3, 2025

editor

The Attorney General has filed a case against one Vithanage Don Dayananda, a former Assistant General Manager (AGM) at People’s Bank head office, for allegedly preparing and using a forged document related to a Rs.2,000 million personal guarantee bond.

Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne has fixed the case (HC 39/2019) for trial on October 30. When the case was called on July 01, the accused had appeared in court.

It is alleged that around June 01, 2006, in Colombo, the accused knowingly prepared a forged document purporting to show that a personal guarantee bond, allegedly signed and dated July 27, 1995, by directors of Yashoda Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.had been submitted to the bank’s head office.

Despite being well aware that the document was a forged one, he had allegedly presented it as genuine evidence during the Commercial High Court Case No. 122/2004.

Therefore, the Attorney General has charged him under Section 459 of the Penal Code.

Related News :