Malaysian national gaining entry with SL passport deported from BIA

A Malaysian national who tried to enter the country in the guise of a Sri Lankan national with a Sri Lankan passport in hand was intercepted by the Immigration officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and deported.

The Malaysian national who had come from Doha, Qatar on a Qatar Airways flight had arrived in the country on Tuesday evening, Immigration sources said.

He had produced his Sri Lankan passport to the local immigration counters and the officials were suspicious as the photograph on the passenger’s passport was different to the actual passenger himself.

The passenger had been then referred to the Immigration and Emigration Department Border Surveillance Unit (BSU) where the officials found that the SL passport, which was in his possession, was genuine and did not belong to him.

The authorities also found an actual Malaysian national identity card belonging to the suspect from his baggage.

Preliminary investigations revealed that according to the immigration data system at the BIA, the actual owner of the Sri Lankan passport had left the country on September 10th.

A senior immigration officer told the Daily Mirror that they suspect whether the Malaysian passenger had swapped his Malaysian passport with the Sri Lankan national, who left the country earlier. The Malaysian passport has a high recognition in European countries including in the UK, where visa is stamped on arrival, the office said.

Following inquiries, the foreigner was sent back to Doha where he arrived from. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana)