Sri Lanka to Screen Visitors from High-Risk Countries Over Cybercrime Concerns

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced that individuals arriving in Sri Lanka from countries identified as having links to cybercrime will be subjected to special scrutiny.

The move follows the recent arrest of several foreign nationals in Sri Lanka in connection with cybercrime-related activities.

Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, P. B. Pathiraja, stated that special investigations are being carried out focusing on travellers arriving from the same countries as those foreign nationals who were previously arrested. He noted that particular attention will be paid to determining whether such individuals are entering Sri Lanka genuinely for tourism purposes.

Immigration officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake will conduct examinations to verify the purpose of travel of these arrivals.

In addition, the Controller General said that the police and immigration officials are separately conducting inspections and investigations into foreign tourists currently residing within the country.

He further stated that individuals arrested in connection with cybercrime will be deported, and legal action will also be taken against them in accordance with the law.