Visa procedures misused by local companies?

By Nalaka Nonis

Several cases have been reported where foreigners who had invested in local firms have been forced to leave the country after the Immigration and Emigration Department cancelled their visas on the request of the local firms.

Immigration and Emigration Controller P.B. Abeykoon told The Sunday Times that foreigners claimed that local firms in which they invested had shrewdly expelled them after getting their visas cancelled. Mr. Abeykoon stated that according to the claims of the victims, the modus operandi of the some local firms was to engage foreigners in investments, promising them valid stay in the country and also profits. But later the locals request the Immigration Department to cancel their visas as they did not wish to have foreign partners.

“According to the law, if a local company which had obtained a visa for a foreigner requests the Department to cancel it, we have to do so”, the Controller said.