The story of the President's visa being canceled, who was planning to go to France

The government strongly rejects social media reports that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's visit to France has been postponed due to a visa being denied to a member of the delegation or to the President. Speaking at a press conference to announce cabinet decisions held at the Government Information Department, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa emphasized that there is no truth to such information, which misleads the public.

The Minister stated that news circulated through social media is not always reliable, and therefore, attention should be paid to who creates and disseminates such false propaganda. He also mentioned that the official dates of the visit will be announced in the future, once a mutually convenient timeframe is agreed upon through diplomatic discussions.

Generally, the President of Sri Lanka does not require a visa to travel to France (or any other foreign country) for an official visit. There are several main reasons for this:
* Diplomatic Immunity: According to international law and conventions, a head of state of a country is not required to obtain a prior visa to visit another country.
* Diplomatic Passport: The President's diplomatic passport allows visa-free entry to most countries in the world.
* Official Invitations: Such visits are often made on an official invitation from the French government or an international organization, so all necessary diplomatic approvals are prepared in advance.
However, other members of the staff accompanying the President (depending on the type of passport they hold) may sometimes require visas or prior diplomatic approvals.

Meanwhile, 'The Sunday Times' newspaper has reported that the official visit to France, scheduled for late this month, has been postponed until the end of this year due to several essential domestic issues, including the impact of the violent situation at the Negombo Prison. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath stated that the Sri Lankan government has informed the French authorities about this and has requested a new date in the latter part of the year. The Foreign Minister further indicated that the government wishes to finalize the contents of three Memoranda of Understanding related to economic, financial, and security sector cooperation with France before the visit.

The official invitation for this visit to France was extended when French President Emmanuel Macron and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met during the 'AI Impact Summit' held in New Delhi last February. A primary objective of this diplomatic delegation, which is highly likely to include Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and the Deputy Minister of Finance, is to secure France's support for the extension of Sri Lanka's GSP+ tax concession facility. As the current concession scheme ends on December 31st, Sri Lanka will need to submit a new application next year, and the continuation of this tax concession depends on the effective implementation of 27 international conventions, including those on human rights, labor rights, environmental protection, and good governance.

However, opposition MP Mujibur Rahman questioned the government regarding the postponement of this visit. The MP pointed out that missing such a visit, which was scheduled to hold discussions crucial for the country's economy, such as GSP Plus tax concessions and bilateral trade agreements, is problematic. He further inquired whether an issue like a visa being denied to one member of the delegation, as reported by social media, is a sufficient reason to cancel or postpone such an important official visit.