Passports of Indian traders in Kalmunai confiscated

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 September 2009, 07:34 GMT]
A special team of the Sri Lanka’s Immigration and Emigration Department Friday raided houses and lodges in Kalmunai town in the eastern province where Indian traders were staying and engaged in the sale of textiles with tourist visa. The team confiscated passports and other travel documents from eighty-two Indian citizens, all Tamils of Tamil Nadu, who had entered the island on tourist visa. They were ordered to appear before the Controller of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo for further action.

The Immigration and Emigration Department last month ordered nine Indian traders who were on tourist visa and engaged in textile sale in Batticaloa town to return to their country.

About one hundred Indian traders left Batticaloa district following the instruction of the police and immigration authorities.

Immigration and Emigration authorities have ordered a clamp down on illegal business activities of Indian traders who entered Sri Lanka with tourist visa, following complaints by local businessmen that their businesses are badly affected due to the intrusion of Indian traders.