The need for public assistance to identify Russian and Ukrainian nationals overstaying by violating their visa conditions was taken up for discussion at the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) recently.
Officials from the Department of Immigration and Emigration pointed out that there were reports of Russians and Ukrainians, whose visas have expired, continuing to reside in Sri Lanka.
They pointed out that these Russians and Ukrainians have also been found to be engaging in business activities in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.
The Immigration Department officials further revealed issues in identifying the whereabouts of these Russians and Ukrainians.
As such, the officials pointed out the need to establish a hotline to seek public assistance to obtain information on Russians and Ukrainians who have violated visa conditions and are engaging in business activities.
The matter was taken up for discussion when officials of the Department of Immigration and Emigration were summoned before the COPA Committee last week. (Newswire)
