Over 1,000 foreigners overstayed visas

Rasika Somarathna

The authorities have nabbed over 1,000 foreign nationals who had overstayed their visa in Sri Lanka during the last two months.

Immigration and Emigration Controller Chulananda Perera said that the arrests were made after the authorities launched a major crackdown to nab overstaying foreigners. Most foreign nationals, arrested on the charge of violating Sri Lankan Visa regulations, have been deported, he added.

According to the authorities, most of the arrested overstayers had either secured employment or were engaged in business activities. Engaging in employment or business activities without prior approval while on visit visas is banned. The Controller for Immigration and Emigration said yesterday that it was difficult to come up with an exact number when it came to the number of visa overstayers in Sri Lanka.

"However, sometime back an official at the Immigration and Emigration told this writer that the number could exceed 20,000.