A recent report reveals that Sri Lankan authorities have apprehended 21 Indian nationals for unlawfully operating an online marketing center in the country, breaching the relaxed norms of tourist visas. The individuals, aged between 24 to 25, were taken into custody by the Department of Immigration and Emigration on Tuesday, as reported by the Daily Mirror newspaper.
Following a preliminary investigation, the department conducted a raid on a rented house located in Negombo city, where the suspects were found running the illicit online marketing center. The premises had been converted into an office space equipped with computers and other electronic devices, according to the report.
Sri Lankan regulations strictly prohibit individuals visiting the country on tourist visas from engaging in any form of paid or unpaid work. The arrested Indian nationals had taken advantage of the visa waiver granted by Sri Lanka to select countries until March 31, as part of an ongoing initiative to boost tourism in the nation.
The detained individuals have been transferred to the department’s detention center in Welisara under the directive of relevant authorities, the report added
