A series of changes proposed to the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948, by Minister of Internal Affairs, S.B. Navinne, was approved by the Cabinet this week.
This includes the decision to collect visa charges in US Dollars, instead of Sri Lankan Rupees, the recommendation of visas for investors/employees in BOI zones by the Secretary to the Ministry under which the BOI functions,
-the charging of a fine of USD 500 in addition to the visafee from foreigners whose visa periods has expired,
-provision of residential visas for foreign students covering their whole academic period
- issuance of a residential visa for up to 10 years for foreigners who remit more than USD 500,000 to Sri Lanka
- the issuance of spouse visas for foreigners up to five years and for their children who are married to Sri Lankan citizens, -issuance of a residential visa for two years to foreigners for employment purposes whose Sri Lankan spouse is dead or who has resided continuously for 10 years in Sri Lanka or who have children under 18 years of age.
Future changes iinclude permitting former Sri Lankan citizens who have obtained citizenship in countries which do not permit dual citizenships to obtain permanent resident visas in Sri Lanka.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today that the suspect in the rape of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital has been identified as an army deserter and he will be apprehended shortly.
Police have arrested the suspect connected to the sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital today morning in Galnewa.
The Dutch Public Prosecutor suspects two companies of paying bribes in the construction of hospitals in Sri Lanka, according to an investigation by FD, the Dutch financial newspaper.
The Government today tabled in the House the Report of the Commission to Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Unlawful Places of Detention and Torture Chambers in the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he wholly rejects the Batalanda Commission report and that it was appointed wholly with the intention slinging political mud at him.
Leader of the National People’s Party (NPP) and one time Propaganda Secretary of the JVP Wimal Weerawansa accused the Government of bringing back the “Batalanda Commission” for a media spectacle instead of a genuine concern for those who suffered during the 1988-1990 period.
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