Forged visa case:

Police look for senior sportswoman

SARATH MALALASEKERA

Ten suspects including a sportsman and two sportswomen who allegedly assisted two persons to leave the country on British visas obtained on forged marriage certificates were produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Gihan Pilapitiya.

On an application by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) Inspector Rajapakse, the Judge earlier cancelled bail ordered on fourth suspect Mustaf Mohamed Faizer. "We are also looking for a very senior sportswoman allegedly involved in this massive visa racket, CCD Director Senior SP S. Senanayake said.

Inspector Rajapakse told Court that the investigators had to record several statements from Immigration and Emigration Department officers in connection with their investigations.

The 10 suspects are Amith Dhamikka Jayasekera, S.A. Nihal Jayantha, J. Fernando, Mustafa Mohamed Faizer, Ranga Kumar Wimalasena, K.B.D. Prasanna, Chaminda Jayantha, Lalania Irangaki, Geetha Dharsha and Prasanna Sampath.

They had allegedly prepared forged marriage certificates and obtained visas from an Embassy in Colombo for individuals seeking migration to the UK.

Earlier, the CCD arrested the kingpin of the visa racket and remanded him pending the completion of investigations. The key suspect in custody has been carrying on this racket with the help of leading personalities, CCD officials said.

Investigations also revealed that only the bridegrooms had left the country on the visas obtained on forged documents but not the brides, Senior SP Senanayake said.

Jayantha Dias Nanayakkara and Sanjey Gamage appeared for some suspects.

Kingsley Hettiarachchi appeared for the complainant.

The case will be called again on December 3.