Harsha blows whistle over $ 200 m investment promise by IVS-GBS

SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva 

• Immigration Chief confirms $200 m commitment

Main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva who is also the Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) yesterday flagged off about the $ 200 million investment promise by IVS-GBS Global Services which the Government has contracted for processing the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Sri Lanka.

wIn raising this matter de Silva taking to X, shared a screen shot of a section of the purported Cabinet paper by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles on the deal to outsource. 

Under sub heading item No 2. Justification, and under 2.3, the highlighted paragraph states the following.

“Furthermore IVS-GSB Global Services has proposed to invest a sum of $ 200 million to provide the relevant technical equipment, software and knowledge for the system integration to be made with the Department of Immigration and Emigration in rendering the relevant services by this company. Accordingly I would like to mention specifically that the Government does not have to bear any cost in implementing this program.” 

“Can this be real?!” questioned the SJB MP. “IVS-GBS global to invest USD 200 million (tech for website and cameras?) as per Cabinet Memo justifying outsourcing at USD 18.50+/visa. VFSGlobal added later to the original consortium? Where did this investment go? #SriLanka Gov MUST answer unless below is fake!” retorted Dr. de Silva.

“Here is the Memo dated 08.09.2023. This was approved by Memo dated 04.12.2023 as per recommendations of the evaluation report (contents of which I do not have but it would be inconceivable to reject USD 200m proposed investment),” added the SJB MP sharing a few more pages of the Cabinet Memorandum No: 38/2023 titled “Appointment of Authorised Representatives to submit online the visa applications of foreigners who visit Sri Lanka and passport applications of Sri Lankans overseas.” 

In a press statement Immigration and Emigration Department Controller General I.S.H.J. Ilukpitiya did confirm of $ 200 million made by VFS for the implementation of this program. (See Page 10)

Joining the X, WSO2 Founder and CEO Sanjiva Weerawarna responded by saying “This is a joke .. who in the world needs $ 200m to build a system for this? You don’t even need $ 2m.”