Increase in foreigners overstaying visas

There had been an increase in the number of foreigners who entered the country during 2016, 2017 and 2018 and overstayed their visas, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament today (8). 

By Sandun Jayawardana

He was responding to a question raised by UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma. Mr Wickremesinghe said the Immigration and Emigration Controller had also observed an increase in the number of overstaying migrants. He said the Ministry of Defence was currently conducting an investigation to determine why there was such a trend of foreigners overstaying their visas. 

Mr Alaheppruma claimed that according to the statistics available to them, there were some 11, 000 foreigners staying illegally in the country. This includes more than 1600 who had arrived as asylum seekers. Nearly 50 percent of the foreigners staying illegally in the country are from countries where the Islamic State is active. Over 1500 asylum seekers are in Negombo and many have been staying there for more than five years, he claimed. 

The UPFA MP said they accepted that there were those among the asylum seekers who were here due to legitimate issues, the fact that so many have been here for more than five years was causing friction between communities. 

Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena disputed Mr Alahapperuma’s figures about foreigners who were overstaying their visas, and added that he could provide accurate figures to the MP. He said while the country had to abide by international law when it came to asylum seekers, it did not mean that Sri Lanka accepted all those who were coming into the country illegally. Around 10-15 persons are being turned back daily, he insisted.