Three Indians arrested in Sri Lanka for visa abuse

COLOMBO: Three Indians have been arrested by Sri Lankan authorities from eastern part of the country on charges of abuse of tourist visas as they were found engaged in business activities, which is illegal for visitors.

Two of them were arrested from Kalmunai while the other one from Batticaloa for selling clothes, police said today, adding they were later produced before the magistrate courts.

Six Indians, on tourist visa, had also been arrested in November for doing business illegally in the east.

India is among the 78 nations whose citizens would not be granted on arrival visa to the island commencing January.

Sri Lankan authorities, complaining of abuse in the on arrival visa system, have introduced the electronic travel authorisation which requires travellers to obtain prior visa approval.