Two foreign companies have expressed dismay over the on-arrival visa turmoil at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, citing suspicions of sabotage during technical hitches. The firms have raised their concerns with the Public Security Ministry.
The government handed over the on-arrival visa services to two foreign companies – GBS-IVS and VFS Global – on April 17. However, tourists soon began reporting delays in receiving services. The companies attributed these delays to technical glitches.
Last Wednesday night, there was a significant backlog at the on-arrival visa counter at BIA as the internet failed. This prompted VLS Global to raise concerns of sabotage to disrupt the service.
According to sources, the foreign companies involved had communicated these concerns to the Public Security Ministry, and the government will soon commence a probe. Prior to GBS-IVS taking over the on-arrival visa issuance at BIA, the counter was managed by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
As GBS-IVS and VFS Global struggled to restore the platform, the on-arrival visa counter was returned to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, which then resumed smooth operations.
“Surprisingly, when GBS-IVS and VFS Global took over the counter, the internet at BIA failed, and for several hours, staff attempted to restore the system. VFS and GBS have
raised these sabotage concerns with the Public Security Ministry,” a senior source familiar with the incident revealed.
