The Indian High Commission has issued a clarification with regard to the issuance of visas to Sri Lankans visiting India on pilgrimage.

A statement issued in this regard notes that although the practice of issuing Gratis visas for Sri Lankans on pilgrimage was briefly discontinued due to a change in visa outsourcing agency working for the High Commission of India.

“Subsequent to the selection of the new service provider, which has started working from 07 July 2026, the practice of issuing Gratis visas for Sri Lankans on pilgrimage is being reintroduced,” the statement adds.

The statement also notes that “there is no visa fee for Sri Lankan pilgrims, whose applications are submitted as indicated in the statement.  However, applicants would be required to pay a visa service fee of LKR 1855/- to the ICAC for their services.

The complete statement issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo, is as follows :

It is our standing policy to facilitate timely and smooth issuance of visas to all Sri Lankans. It may be noted that Sri Lanka is also one of the many countries around the world whose citizens can avail of the E-visa facility for travel to India. However, those citizens of Sri Lanka who chose to apply at the High Commission are required to apply online and submit their applications to the Indian Consular Application Centres (ICAC), which are located in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna, Hambantota and Batticaloa.

As regards those Sri Lankans who travel to India for pilgrimage, including to Buddhist pilgrimage sites, visa is facilitated, and issued swiftly. Wherever possible, if these applications are recommended by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs, these visas are issued on a Gratis basis for groups of 10 pilgrims and above. For a brief period, due to change in visa outsourcing agency working for the High Commission of India, this practice was discontinued. Subsequent to the selection of the new service provider, which has started working from 07 July 2026, the practice of issuing Gratis visas for Sri Lankans on pilgrimage is being reintroduced. As was the practice earlier, these requests should be forwarded by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs. These visas can be applied as group of 10 or more and applicants are required to visit ICAC as a group or individually as is convenient for the purposes of capturing their biometrics. This is a mandatory requirement under the new regulations of the Government of India. However, biometrics are required for the people between the age of 12 and 70 only.

As regards other senior citizens visiting ICAC for their biometrics, special and expedited process has been instituted to keep their waiting time to the minimum possible. Capturing biometrics will ensure that their passage through the Indian Immigration on arrival in India is smooth and convenient.

As such, there is no visa fee for Sri Lankan pilgrims, whose applications are submitted as indicated above. The question on any change in visa fee for Sri Lankan pilgrims, therefore, does not arise. However, applicants would be required to pay visa service fee of LKR 1855/- to the ICAC for their services.

Legal action was instituted in the Gampola Magistrate’s Court by the Kandy District Investigative Officers of the Consumer Affairs Authority against Kasagala Green Super (Pvt) Ltd, located on Hospital Road, Gampola.

The company was charged with violating the provisions and directions issued under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act by selling locally produced Nadu rice above the government-mandated Maximum Retail Price of LKR 230 per kilogram.

During a raid conducted by Consumer Affairs Authority officers on June 23, 2026, the supermarket was found selling locally produced Nadu rice at LKR 240 per kilogram, exceeding the controlled price by LKR 10.

When the case was called before the Gampola Magistrate’s Court on July 14, 2026, the defendant company pleaded guilty to the charge.

Accordingly, the Court imposed a fine of LKR 500,000.

The CAA urges the public to report traders who sell goods above controlled prices or sell substandard or expired food products to their 1977 hotline during office hours.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate, Asanga S. Bodaragama, yesterday (23) that House of Fashions Mall is among the companies allegedly involved in a large-scale scheme in which foreign currency was transferred overseas under the guise of importing goods, in violation of the Customs Ordinance.

The CID further informed the court that investigations have so far revealed the involvement of 21 leading companies in Sri Lanka, and that further inquiries are being conducted to confirm their participation. The CID stated that House of Fashions Mall was identified as one of the six companies uncovered to date.

The CID also told the court that Jeffrey Mohamed, who is currently being held in remand custody on allegations of fraud involving the transfer of more than US$700 million abroad, is believed to have acted as the facilitator of the operation.

After prison officials produced the suspect before court, the CID strongly objected to granting him bail.

The CID further stated that the suspect has refused to disclose the names of the companies involved and has not cooperated with the investigation.

The Financial Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation Department made the following submissions to the court:

“This fraud was carried out by transferring US dollars out of Sri Lanka under the pretext of importing goods.

The scheme was uncovered after the Criminal Investigation Department investigated the accounts of 36 companies.

Funds were transferred overseas on 10,156 occasions, but there is no record with Sri Lanka Customs of goods being imported using those payments. We are also investigating whether imported goods were deliberately undervalued to evade taxes and deprive the government of revenue.

The suspect, who presented himself as a director of a company named A.Y. Investment, which operated in the Colombo Fort area, carefully orchestrated this operation.

At the time of his arrest, authorities recovered a large quantity of US dollar banknotes worth several crores of rupees from his possession. They also seized ultra-luxury motor vehicles worth over Rs. 200 million, as well as a quantity of gold, all allegedly purchased using proceeds from these illegal activities.

A special, wide-ranging investigation has already been launched to identify and apprehend the large-scale businesspersons who transferred dollars abroad through the suspect and caused significant tax losses to the state.”

Appearing for the suspect, President’s Counsel M.A. Suwair  and attorney Asanka Perera argued that the imports had been carried out lawfully and requested that the suspect be released on appropriate bail.

After considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate noted that the suspect had failed to cooperate with investigators. The court observed that the suspect had attempted to conceal evidence and evade the judicial process, and concluded that there was little reason to expect his cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

Accordingly, the Magistrate rejected the bail application and ordered that Jeffrey Mohamed remain in remand custody until the 6th.