Visa overstayers beware

by Ananda KANNANGARA

At least 600 foreign nationals who are employed in the country without valid visas will be dealt with under a program to be implemented by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

According to the Department, the investigation Unit will lay a security blanket in the city and other vulnerable places where information on visa overstayers are reported.

Head of the Investigation Unit, Assistant Controller W. Devendraraja told the Sunday Observer that following a series of successful raids which were carried out from January to June this year, about 97 visa overstayers were taken in for questioning and deported to their countries without imposing harsh punishment.

He said visa overstayers are mainly reported from China, India and Pakistan and many of them are employed in small hotels, jewellery shops and factories in Free Trade Zones to earn a pittance during their stay here.

Responding to a question, Assistant Controller Devendraraja who did not identify any country by name said that some female visa overstayers are reported to be employed in city casinos and night clubs earning high salaries.

"Although we conduct random checks on visa overstayers in the city and outstation lodges, we have decided to expand our investigations without harming genuine foreigners, especially tourists residing in the country legally," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior Police Department official, when contacted said many females visa overstayers who are employed in top organisations are drawing high salaries and are protected by affluent persons who own such organisations.