By The Supreme Court has issued an interim order suspending the Cabinet’s decision to approve online and expatriate visa operations in Sri Lanka. This suspension will remain in effect until the petitions are fully resolved. Additionally, the Court has mandated that authorities revert to the previous status quo before the Cabinet’s decision was implemented.
The interim order comes at at a time when the President has said the Judiciary should no interfere with matters of the executive. The visa deal was presented to the cabinet by Minister Tiran Alas .
This ruling was made by a three-judge bench consisting of Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickremasinghe, and Achala Wengappuli. The decision came in response to several Fundamental Rights petitions that challenged procedural violations and the misuse of public trust by officials in the procurement process of private entities for managing the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for tourist visas.
The petitioners included Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, Ministry Secretary Viyani Gunathilaka, the Cabinet of Ministers, and others. During the proceedings, members of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) of Parliament—M.A. Sumanthiran PC, Rauff Hakeem, and Patali Champika Ranawaka—presented their oral submissions. Upul Jayasuriya PC, along with Sithara Sampath Wijewardane, represented Parliamentarian Ashoka Abeysinghe. Sanjeeva Jayawardena PC, with Rukshan Senadheera, appeared for Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda and Chandra Jayaratne. Senior Counsel Suren Gnanaraj represented the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators and other petitioners, while Senior Counsel Senani Dayaratne represented Transparency International Sri Lanka. Attorney-at-law S.M. Dissanayaka was represented by Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe and Vishwa De Livera Tennakoon. Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena appeared for the Attorney Genera
