Supreme Court Orders Immigration Controller General to be Remanded

COLOMBO (News1st): Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Harsha Illukpitiya has been ordered to be remanded in custody by the Supreme Court today.

This order comes as a result of his failure to comply with the interim order issued by the Supreme Court on August 2, which voided the government's decision to issue visas under the electronic visa system.

The ruling was made by a bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe, and Achala Wengappuli.

The court had previously issued an interim order suspending the issuance of online visas and directing the controller general to issue visas under the old visa issuance system, thus voiding the electronic visa system.

Although more than a month has passed, the Controller General has willfully disregarded the court's order, leading petitioners, including Patali Champika Ranawaka, Rauff Hakeem, and M. A. Sumanthiran, to inform the court on September 13 to take appropriate legal action against him.

Considering the submisions made in court the supreme court justices noted that the Controller General had willfully ignored the court's order and therefore was in contempt of court. 

As a result, during today's hearing, the petitioners filed contempt of charges against the Controller General.

The Supreme Court Justices emphasized that ignoring the Supreme Court's orders is a serious matter and that it is the responsibility of Supreme Court Justices to uphold the rule of law, instructing prison officials to take him into custody.

The Supreme Court Justices ordered that he be remanded in custody until the conclusion of the petition examination.