Two new detention centres have been established by the Department of Immigration and Emigration to detain foreigners overstaying their visas after seeking refugee status with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

A Department official said one detention centre was established at Boossa and the other at Negombo. Foreigners who overstay and violate Visa conditions are at the moment detained at the Mirihana detention centre and since this facility is inadequate to house the large number from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the two new detention centres had been established.

He said 60 Pakistani nationals are detained at Boossa and 61 Afghans in Negombo. He said that Rs. 28,000 is spent daily for their maintenance. He said there are about 1,500 who had sought refugee status through the UNHRC in the country. (Indika Sri Aravinda)