Immigration rounds up overstaying Chinese labourers

Immigration authorities carried out the raid to check several dozens of Chinese skilled workers who are posted at this new project in Laxapana

A group of Chinese skilled labourers who had been engaged in work in a special project in Laxapana after completing their task in Moragahakanda and without a valid visa were rounded by the Immigration Department flying squad yesterday.

A joint operation conducted by two probing units of the Department of Immigration and Emigration took four Chinese skilled labourers into custody whilst they were engaged at work on a special project affiliated to the Laxapana Power House.

The immigration authorities on information received by the Ceylon Electricity Board officials carried out the raid to check several dozens of Chinese skilled workers who are posted at this new project in Laxapana.

According to immigration sources, the four Chinese nationals were part of a group of Chinese skilled labourers who had been summoned for the construction work of the Moragahakanda project which was concluded recently.

The skilled labourers who arrive for local development projects come under special visa conditions to work on the particular project and usually return once the task is fulfilled.

Although their duties were completed, the four Chinese workers had been absorbed to work in the Laxapana CEB project irrespective of their visa conditions, the sources said.

The Immigration authorities had informed the Chinese nationals to report to the Immigration and Emigration Department Head Office and arrange their return trips within the next seven days.