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| Sunday, 5 January 2003 |
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Letters to the Editor : Resident visas Resident visas are granted to expatriate staff of companies approved by the Board of Investment for one year. In other countries, visas are granted for three years to the expatriate staff of foreign companies.Renewing the visa each year is a hassle and an unproductive waste of time. Besides, the Board of Investment charges US$10 for the application form to apply for the visa. Resident visas and student visas have to be renewed each year on payment of Rs. 15,000. Sri Lankans with foreign passports who visit Sri Lanka, are given a tourist visa for one month. If they wish to stay in Sri Lanka for another two weeks, they have to pay for a further three months. In India, persons of Indian origin are given a visa for 10 years except for persons residing in countries like Sri Lanka. Lankans who travel to the UK are given a visa for six months and to the USA for five years (after September 11th, for one year).This law should be immediately changed if we are to encourage Sri Lankans domiciled abroad to visit their homeland and investing in business undertakings. Sri Lankans living abroad should be given incentives to return to their motherland and participate in rebuilding the nation. It should also be noted that Sri Lankans on foreign passports have to pay more to visit places of historical interest and game sanctuaries. They are treated as foreigners for this purpose. If a Sri Lankan domiciled abroad wishes to invest in Sri Lanka, he/she has to obtain a Letter of Approval from the Board of Investment after paying US$175 and 20 per cent VAT. He/she is treated as a foreigner for purposes of investment in Sri Lanka. This law should be repealed. Are we treating them shabbily? G. A. Fernando, |
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