SLBFE busts student visa racket

by Naalir Jamaldeen

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has busted a racket in sending Sri Lankans abroad on student or tourist visas, SLBFE Deputy General Manager Mangala Randeniya told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

The Special Information Division of the SLBFE has received information of such incidents in the past, Randeniya said.

The SLBFE has asked people to be vigilant of those who send people abroad on student or visit visa and if information of such persons is received to inform the Bureau immediately, the Deputy General Manager said. Randeniya said he would hold a discussion with the Ambassador of the United Arabic Emirates in Sri Lanka to discuss the legal procedure of sending Sri Lankans on visit visas.

"We call upon the people to refrain from going abroad on student or tourist visas for employment.

These rackets are being carried out with the help of middlemen", he said.

"We need to conduct an investigation to ascertain the visit is genuine, who is sponsoring the tour when one goes abroad on education or visit visa. If the tour is genuine he or she will be permitted to go abroad else they will be sent back from the Airport", Randeniya said.

He said that the SLBFE strictly follows the regulations that those who go abroad on employment should be above 23 years and do not have young children.