Easy visas abused: Immigration to get tough
Immigration officials have been put on full alert following reports that a growing number of Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are using Sri Lanka as a human smuggling base to find entry into the West.

Sounding the alert, Immigration and Emigration Controller Mervyn Wijesekera has told officials to closely question those arriving from the South Asian region to ensure they had no ulterior motives. This came after a series of cases where the CID arrested some 350 people from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan while they were in Sri Lanka trying to illegally go to Italy or other European destinations. More than 200 illicit immigrants were arrested at Tangalle last month and 118 would-be illegal immigrants at Tissamaharama on Thursday.

Mr. Wijesekera said it appeared that the facility of giving South Asians visas on arrival here was apparently being abused. If Immigration officers are not satisfied with the bona fides of people arriving here, they would be sent back. (See related story)

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