A cabinet decision was taken today (May 06) to maintain the existing $50 fee for a 30-day visa for foreigners visiting the country, the PMD announces.

It has also been decided to continue offering free visa services to citizens of 07 countries: India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Meanwhile, visa issuance responsibility will be handled solely by the Dept. of immigration & Emigration, the PMD adds.

A bag with 180 passports has been found in a drain in the Maharagama area.

According to reports, the passports had been obtained by a foreign employment agency operating in the Maharagama area, promising foreign employment.

It is reported that the owner of the agency had fled the area, after duping a number of people and swindling nearly Rs. 260 million.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has stated that the methodology of the present e-visa system has not impacted the Department’s power of approving, issuing or not issuing visa, mentioned in the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948.

In a detailed statement, shown below, the department has elaborated as follows :