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Overseas Lankans to get permanent residence visas here, if dual citizenship is an issue
View(s):By Damith Wickremasekara
Sri Lankans living overseas and unable to obtain dual citizenship due to existing laws in the respective countries will soon be able to obtain a renewable permanent residence visa to live and work here, Immigration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya said.
The regulations had been finalised and would soon be gazetted before the implementation of the scheme, he said. Those Sri Lankans whose citizenship has ceased after obtaining citizenship in another country, their non-Sri Lankan spouse, and their children will be entitled to the residence visa.
The person making the application will be required to pay US$ 1,000 for the visa while a non-Sri Lankan spouse and a child will be charged US$ 400 each.
The Controller General said the move came after several appeals from Sri Lankans residing overseas who had not been able to obtain dual citizenship due to the prevailing laws in the respective countries.
He said President Wickremesinghe granted approval for the scheme as it was in line with his policy of appealing to Sri Lankans living overseas to help in the development of the country.
Mr. Ilukpitiya said, going by the current demand, they were expecting some 10,000 applications consisting of 3,000 families in the first year.
Chief Immigration Officer (ETA and Visa), M. T. Zainul Rila, said that a committee will scrutinise applications and decide on granting the residence visas.
The residence visas would be issued for 10 years and renewed thereafter, he said.
The recipients will be able to gain employment, join the public service, engage in business, and invest in Sri Lanka. The provisions for cancellation of the visas will also be gazetted.
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