Why are foreigners still allowed to run unlawful businesses, jobs in SL?

• People from Israel, India , Russia, Ukraine among them
• Immigration authorities involved in dubious acts in giving visas in violation of SLTDA guidelines

Colombo, May 26 (Daily Mirror) - A rising number of foreign nationals, mainly from countries such as Israel , India , Russia and Ukraine,continue to be involved in business operations and jobs using visas issued in violation of guidelines stipulated by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the Daily Mirror learns.

An official of the Tourism Ministry told the Daily Mirror that the SLTDA had stipulated a stiff set of guidelines to be followed in issuance of visas for foreign nationals visiting Sri Lanka for tourism, or investment and employment in the hospitality industry.

The SLTDA recommends visas for foreign nationals to work in the hospitality industry in categories such as chefs,managers and therapists .

"They are given resident visas by the immigration authorities upon recommendation by the SLTDA. Only hotels and restaurants above a certain standard are allowed to employ foreign nationals. Yet we find foreigners doing jobs even in small restaurants. Their employers, apparently well- established foreigners who arrived earlier, secure visas for their prospective employees from the immigration authorities bypassing the SLTDA guidelines, " he said.

Also, a foreign national should pay the Tourism Development Levy and maintain the required deposit in IRA (International Resident Account ) in addition to fulfilment of other guidelines in case he or she wants to invest in the industry. The Ministry official who wished to remain anonymous said that there are instances such foreign nationals have secured one- year resident visa flouting the rules and regulations .

"They can do it with the help of dubious immigration officers. This has continued for years. Now we work out measures to iron out loopholes that lead to corruption in visa processing, " he said.

These foreign nationals provide services to fellow nationals of their countries visiting as tourists . Payments are made using their electronic transactional methods denying economic benefits to Sri Lanka, according to him.

Asked for a comment, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said foreigners are deported in case visa regulations are violated.

"We step up measures in this regard," he said.