International journalists attempting to travel to Sri Lanka and cover the upcoming presidential elections have faced visa delays or even outright refusals in recent weeks, as tension continues to build on the island ahead of the polls.
The Tamil Guardian is aware of several cases where foreign journalists have not received their visas, despite following all due process. This week, the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka sought clarification from the Ministry of Public Security on the visa process for journalists covering the 2024 Presidential Elections, writing directly to Sri Lanka's Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles.
File photograph: Tamils protest against media supression in 2014.
International journalists attempting to travel to Sri Lanka and cover the upcoming presidential elections have faced visa delays or even outright refusals in recent weeks, as tension continues to build on the island ahead of the polls.
The Tamil Guardian is aware of several cases where foreign journalists have not received their visas, despite following all due process. This week, the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka sought clarification from the Ministry of Public Security on the visa process for journalists covering the 2024 Presidential Elections, writing directly to Sri Lanka's Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles.
“Several of our colleagues who have applied for visas through Sri Lankan missions in their home countries have been informed that, following the Supreme Court’s decision in early August, these missions are no longer able to issue "journalist" visas,” said the letter.
“In the past, these visas allowed journalists to obtain media accreditation from the Director-General of Information.”
“Foreign media organisations will not deploy staff without proper accreditation. Therefore, it is crucial that the updated system for obtaining visas and media accreditation is clearly communicated to avoid any hindrance to journalistic duties during this important election period.”
The web portal which was used to obtain the visas (https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/) is currently also down.
Sri Lanka has a long history of press suppression, and was at one point one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. Tamil journalists in particular bore the brunt of Sri Lankan repression with dozens of media workers killed or disappeared throughout the decades of armed conflict and genocide. International media organisations, such as Channel 4 News, would also face visa difficulties or expulsion from the island.
The letter to Alles comes at a time that the minister himself is embroiled in a visa scam investigation, accused of bypassing tender procedures to award a contract for on-arrival visas to VFS Global, a private firm tasked with issuing visas at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Anti-Indian sentiment flared in the wake of a viral video which alleged the Indian company had taken over the processing of visas at Colombo’s international airport. The Indian High Commission in Colombo was forced to deny any Indian involvement with issuing visas in Sri Lanka.
The case is before Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court, awaiting a verdict. Opposition MP Harsha de Silva had previously informed parliament that a committee investigation found irregularities in the selection of VFS, citing a lack of transparency in the fee structure, potential data breaches, conflicts with other service providers, and an unaccounted $200 million.
Recently Alles claimed that he holds a “10-year visa” allowing him to live in any country in the world, as he rejected claims that he may flee the island following the presidential polls on September 21.
Alles was responding to questions regarding claims by opposition MP Mujibur Rahuman, who alleged that at least 80 government ministers were planning to leave the country after the elections.
