The Government of Sri Lanka has once again endorsed the broadly held view that questioning the State or senior state officials will get you in trouble. The recent scandal regarding the issuance of Visa at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Sri Lanka’s premier gateway for visitors, has once again shone a spotlight on the governance culture of being unable to take any form of criticism without trying to ‘punish’ or repress it.
A debate flared up last week after video clips circulated on social media platforms showing an incoming passenger at BIA claiming that ‘Indian’ personnel were handling Sri Lanka's immigration and emigration processes. It was subsequently disclosed that the Public Security Ministry had outsourced the visa processing to GBS Technology Services and IVS Global-FZCO, with VFS Global serving as the technology partner.
The first reaction from the Minister and the ministry concerned was to warn that those persons who had caused the uproar shall be questioned. Speaking during a media briefing yesterday (6), Public Security Minister Tiran Alles described the incident, and said that necessary legal action would be initiated against the relevant individual. "He has gone to the counter with his wife, the latter who didn't have a visa. An officer then told him to go and get the visa, but he began shouting from the moment that he was asked to stand in line. He wanted to get his wife's visa without following the queue. That's how it has happened," he said. When queried as to what action would be taken against him, he said: "No one can scream like a vagrant at an International Airport. There are rules and regulations, and we will take action against him according to them." The minister added that some Immigration and Emigration officers have recorded the incident, and that action would also be taken against them. "I have found everything now. It was some Immigration and Emigration officers who have videoed this incident. Actions will also be taken against them. I will not allow any disruptive behaviour."
Why are Sri Lankan law makers and public officials so afraid of those who ask questions? If the said individual had caused a commotion at the airport, why wasn’t he questioned on site by the Airport Police and action taken? Why wait till you have a scandal in your hands to use the law to intimidate or harass those who’s action, exposed a concerning situation? Isn’t this type of response from state officials a symptom of the long entrenched political culture of impunity, where state officials and lawmakers believe they are above the law, beyond questioning? What does the Minister mean by ‘I will not allow any disruptive behaviour’? Some may view that as a thinly veiled warning to whistleblowers.
The individual concerned, Sandaru Kumarasinghe, recorded a statement with the Airport Police yesterday. Speaking to the press, he said "I spoke about the visa issue that day, and it sparked a lot of conversation across society. People, especially in the media, started talking about this. There are young people in this country who are unemployed. Why can’t the Government not involve them in these processes," he questioned, explaining that outsourcing a complex process like issuing visas to a foreign company could lead to large outflows of foreign currency from the country. "As a lawyer and someone involved in tourism, I have the right to speak about this. Everyone should have the freedom of speech,” Kumarasinghe said.
The scandal has now highlighted the disconnect between the two ministries which are most affected by the decision to outsource the process and with it the impact on visa cost. The tourism industry had raised concerns about the increase in the total cost of the single entry 30 day visa cost, which rose from $ 30 to $ 50. A day and a half into the scandal, and the Government last evening walked back the cost to $ 30, which is expected to help draw more budget tourists during the upcoming season. Industry sources say a collective sigh of relief was felt following the ill-advised decision being walked back. Tech experts have also questioned how the Minister can justify the said company investing $ 200 million for the said project? $ 200 million is a significant investment, and the fact that we have not heard about such an investment at a time the Government is keen to attract investors should raise some red flags too.
It will be interesting to see the fallout from this scandal, if at all there will be any. The Minister of Tourism yesterday evening took to social media to deny rumours that he had threatened to resign over the cost increase. However, he stated that he had not wanted a part in the decision to increase the visa fees.
All this points to lack of synergy and transparency in the governance structure. However, for state officials, once someone questions them, they see the whistleblower or the messenger, as a threat. Sri Lanka will get nowhere until this culture of impunity and being self-entitled is dismantled.