Parliament’s Committee on Public Finance (COPF) questioned officials on how visas for people entering the Port City Colombo project are monitored, at a recent meeting.
An official of the Department of Immigration and Emigration told the committee that more than 14,300 visas have been issued to date to individuals entering the project.
MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and other members asked whether officials track visitors after arrival and check that they complete the mandatory 30-day process to regularise their documents. Officials said tracking is limited to periodic monthly reporting, not real-time checks on each person.
Committee members criticised the lack of continuous oversight and asked how authorities can vouch for the more than 14,000 visa holders. The discussion also covered the absence of a dedicated Legal Director post in the organisation, which critics say slows and weakens transparency in bringing in genuine investment.
The visa arrangements bear on how Sri Lanka manages entry and compliance at a major investment zone.
