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Alaska visa scandal: CID to record statement from Jeevan
CID detectives are to record a statement from Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Jeevan Kumaratunga over the multi-billion forged passport scandal.
The move follows revelations made by some of the suspects now in custody in connection with the racket which involved the issue of forged United States visas for jobs in Alaska.

The Sunday Times revealed exclusively last week how the offices of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs were turned into a headquarters of a multi-billion rupee human smuggling operation. It came to light after CID detectives arrested eight Sri Lankan nationals heading for Alaska with forged visas.

Minister Kumaratunga told The Sunday Times he had allowed two of his political supporters to use the Ministry premises to provide employment to needy youth. He claimed that they had been duped by a Nigerian party who had promised the youth visas.

CID investigations have revealed that the persons who operated this alleged job racket had not registered themselves as a job agency, which is a legal requirement. They are now investigating to ascertain why visas for such jobs were sought from a Nigerian party when such applications could have been made directly to the United States Embassy in Colombo.

Senior CID officials yesterday dismissed as idle talk reports that that they had been relieved of the responsibility of conducting investigations. “We are very much in charge of the investigation and are proceeding with it,” an official who did not wish to be identified declared.

The CID has also sought the assistance of both the Interpol and the United States Government to continue its investigations.

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