Rise in Illegal migrants

Rasika SOMARATHNA

COLOMBO: Concern has been voiced by authorities on the growing number of illegal migrants in Sri Lanka, who exploit the ‘on arrival’ visa facility to enter the country and not only find themselves employment but also engage in illegal activities.

Eight migrants of South Asian origin were arrested last Thursday by the Investigation arm of the Immigration and Emigration Department for violating Sri Lankan visa regulations.

Assistant Controller for Investigation Parakrama Fernando told the Daily News that these migrants on tourist Visas from a neighbouring country, were arrested while working as labourers in paddy fields in Tissamaharama and Hambatota.

This is the second such arrest in recent times. The Investigation Unit arrested several South Asians two months ago from the Eastern Province engaged as temporary hands in paddy fields.

According to Fernando these migrants sell their technical expertise and other know how pertaining to certain agricultural equipment which are manufactured in their countries while travelling from area to area mostly during the harvesting season. By contrast, Sri Lankans who illegally enter developed countries seeking greener pastures are arrested and detained.

As such illegal migrants on Sri Lankan soil has been a question largely ignored, thus posing a major problem to the country in many fronts as a large number of these immigrants have been involved in numerous illegal activities.

The Investigation Unit of the Immigration and Emigration Department led by Chief Controller P. B. Abeykoon, has taken a tough stand on the issue while apprehending over 150 foreigners who had violated their visa provisions in 2007, with the emphasis on building an effective mechanism to counter the threat posed by these illegal immigrants.

Fernando said a majority of these immigrants take advantage of the ‘On Arrival’ tourist Visa system in Sri Lanka, with citizens of 80 countries including SAARC members being issued visas on arrival.

The majority of these illegal immigrant population is from South Asian and East Asian countries.

Most immigrants work in hotels, jewellery shops, construction sites, IT sector, massage parlours, casino’s, fishing\agricultural sectors and as street vendors.Some are involved in drug trafficking, human smuggling, prostitution and other illegal activities.

The problem has become a menace not only because these immigrants involve themselves in illegal activities but also because they deprive the Sri Lankans viable job opportunities, immigration sources said.

According to Fernando, those arrested are being held at the Mirihana detention centre pending further investigations. Steps are to be taken to deport them and have them blacklisted barring their re-entry to the country.

“It is very difficult to impose restrictions considering its effect on tourism so we have taken steps to expand the Unit with the intention of carrying out periodical checks”, Fernando said.

The Department has also taken steps to develop the Data base system and to install a surveillance system, to have as much details as possible on these illegal immigrants.

According to Fernando in 2006 the Unit had arrested more than 400 foreigners who had overstayed their visas and raids are to be intensified which would act as a deterrent to offenders, Fernando said.

The latest arrests were made on the instructions of the Chief Controller for immigration P.B. Abeykoon and on the direction of Assistant Controller Parakrama Fernando.