Jamila Husain 
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Weak immigration laws pose a threat to Sri Lanka’s free visa policy for foreigners
In the wake of the poor enforcement of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act, concerns are being raised whether the government's attempt to open the country for free visa entry for nationals from 40 more countries will encourage unlawful foreign owned businesses here further.
Sri Lanka is currently grappling with the issue of foreigners, especially Israeli nationals, who arrive here under the tourist visa category, running business activities such as guest houses, clubs, surfing, pubs and taxi services in cohort with their local partners.
The immigration authorities are under fire for not being able to curb such activities.
The government has now decided to offer free visa to people from 40 more countries, subject to clearance by the Attorney General.
An official from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority ( SLTDA) said that the immigration authorities should incur a blame for the failure on the part of them to crack down on unlawful businesses run by foreigners who are here under the pretext of tourists.
Last week, a foreign tourist exposed the heavy presence of Israeli nationals in Arugam Bay in the east, who were operating clubs and restaurants their, with signs put up in Hebrew, omitting the Sinhala and Tamil languages. Many other social media users blamed the successive governments including the NPP government for turning a blind eye to the growing Israeli presence in the south and east and questioning why they were allowed to put up sign boards in Hebrew and why their visa status was not being checked.
“I feel I am in Israel when I come to Arugam Bay. And they discourage the locals from visiting their clubs and restaurants. This is racism on our own soil,” a social media user said.
There are also instances in which nationals from countries such as China are caught running scamming centres in the country while many Indian nationals have also been arrested for overstaying and working here under tourist visas.
The tourism authorities have raised this issue with the immigration authorities at meetings but no stern results have yet been achieved.
Besides, many other countries have also asked for inclusion in the free visa category.
Tourism remains one of the key sources of foreign exchange earnings at the moment.
Sri Lanka targets US $ 5 billion annulasly from tourism in the future.
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