Interim injunction issued on Visa Application Centre

THE Colombo District Judge, K. A. Sumithrapala has issued an interim injunction restraining VFS India (Pvt) Limited, their servants, agents or any person acting under their direct or indirect authorisation from carrying on the business of a Visa Application Centre on behalf of the British High Commission, Colombo at the Palm Grove, Colombo.

The Judge made this order on an application by the residents of the Palm Grove, Colombo alleging that the Visa Application Centre carried on at the Palm Grove premises constituted a nuisance to the residents and persons visiting the residents of Palm Grove.

The Palm Grove residents' application stated that the VFS India (Pvt) Limited has been appointed by the British High Commission in Colombo to receive visa applications to the United Kingdom. The plaintiffs stated that there are about 400 persons visit this centre daily.

There are inadequate toilet facilities and therefore these persons use the road as a toilet. Cars are parked at all parts of the road obstructing and preventing the residents from driving into their premises and the guests of the residents from parking alongside their premises.

The plaintiffs also stated that although numerous requests had been made to the authorities on the nuisance caused by the Visa Application Centre without the UDA permission did not receive a positive response and that in under these circumstances the Court order was necessary to prevent any further nuisance.

President's Counsel Romesh de Silva with Suren de Silva instructed by D. L. & F De Saram appeared for the plaintiffs, residents of Palm Grove.

President's Counsel K. Kanag-Iswaran with Chanaka de Silva instructed by G. G. Arulpragasam appeared for the VFS India (Pvt) Limited.