94 Chinese nationals fined Rs. 7.05 million for visa violations
COLOMBO – The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has fined 94 Chinese nationals a total of Rs 7.05 million after they pleaded guilty to violating the conditions of their tourist visas by engaging in employment in Sri Lanka.
The Chinese nationals were produced before Additional Colombo Magistrate Nuwan Kausalya, who imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 on each of them.
The case arose from an investigation launched after Police received information that Chinese nationals who had entered Sri Lanka on tourist visas were residing in the country and engaging in employment in breach of their visa conditions.
Police Inspector Rajitha Warnapriya, Officer-in-Charge of the Financial and Commercial Crimes Division of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau, told court that the Chinese nationals were arrested in the Rajagiriya area while allegedly engaged in online business activities.
The investigation was conducted on the instructions of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Crime and Traffic Range Chandana Kodithuwakku and under the direction of Central Crime Investigation Bureau Director Kamal Ariyawansa.
Inspector Warnapriya submitted that the Chinese nationals had worked in Sri Lanka without the required authorization and that such activities could adversely affect local employment opportunities and the economy.
He urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence to discourage other foreign nationals from violating Sri Lanka’s immigration and visa regulations.
The 94 accused admitted to the court that they had breached the conditions of their tourist visas by remaining in Sri Lanka and engaging in employment without the necessary permission.
After considering the facts presented, the Magistrate imposed a fine of Rs. 75,000 on each accused, bringing the total to Rs 7.05 million.
-ENCL
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