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| Sunday, 19 October 2003 |
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Huge Cyprus visa racket Non-existent universities, students stranded by Don Asoka Wijewardena A huge racket involving the issue of student visas to non-existent universities and several other higher educational institutions in Cyprus has been uncovered by the Minister of Foreign Employment Welfare, Luxman Yapa Abeywardena, during the visit to that country last week. A number of agencies involved in the racket are said to be charging Rs. 100,000 from each person for such visas, often leaving the visa holders stranded when they arrive in Cyprus. The Minister had met around 300 stranded Sri Lankans who had gone to Cyprus on such visas for study purposes with part time job opportunities. Another 50 Sri Lankans are scheduled to leave Sri Lanka for Cyprus shortly. The stranded Sri Lankans had told Minister Abeywardena who was on an official visit to Cyprus last week, that each one had paid around Rs. one lakh to the job agencies in Sri Lanka. They had also complained that the universities and other higher educational institutes that the agencies had named for them to study were not to be found in Cyprus. According to Foreign Employment Welfare officials, part time employment for those on student visas is entirely illegal in Cyprus. Minister Abeywardena held series of discussions with the Cyprus government regarding the employment racket. He had also told the ministry officials that on his return he would take stern action against these bogus employment agencies. The Minister has also informed that he will request the government to cancel all student visas until required investigations on the racket are completed and to order the agencies to pay compensation to those affected as a relief measure. |
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