The Department of Immigration and Emigration has decided to bring into effect a ruling that will effectively blacklist all foreigners found overstaying their visas. Assistant Controller and Head of the Investigations Unit William Devendra Raja explained that visa-on-arrival facilities were afforded to travelers from 84 select countries in Europe, North America and the SAARC region.

However he said the facility was being misused and abused by certain categories of persons. He pointed out that on arrival to the country, a free visa period of thirty days is afforded to travelers and tourists from these 84 countries, extendable by payment of a nominal fee variable to each country, for a total of two months or 90 days.

In spite of this it has been found that a large number of tourists have flouted the law and obtained temporary employment.

He explained that a team of investigators headed by him looked into matters of this nature, but stressed that they would only get involved if solid information was received regarding illegal activity and/or the violation of Immigration and Emigration law in the country.

He added that violators would not only be deported from the country with immediate effect but also have their names black marked so as to prevent any further activity in the country.