During a recent sitting of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), members questioned immigration officials about the monitoring mechanisms for visas issued to individuals entering the Colombo Port City project, amid concerns over transparency and accountability.
Officials revealed that more than 14,300 visas had been issued to date to individuals entering the project.
Questions, led by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and other committee members, focused on immigration landing endorsements and visas issued to individuals entering the project.
When committee members asked immigration and project officials whether they actively monitored individuals after their arrival and ensured compliance with the mandatory 30-day process to regularise their documentation, officials said that monitoring was limited to periodic monthly reporting rather than real-time individual checks.
Lawmakers criticised the lack of continuous oversight, questioning how authorities could account for all visa holders and ensure accountability among the more than 14,000 individuals concerned.
The discussions also addressed administrative shortcomings, including the absence of a dedicated Legal Director post at the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, which critics argued could undermine the efficient and transparent handling of legitimate investments. (Newswire)
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