Foreign Nationals Continue Unlawful Business and Employment Operations in Sri Lanka Amid Visa Violations

An increasing number of foreign nationals, particularly from Israel, India, Russia, and Ukraine, are reportedly operating businesses and working in Sri Lanka in violation of visa regulations set by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

According to a Tourism Ministry official, the SLTDA has stringent guidelines for issuing visas to foreign nationals seeking to work or invest in the hospitality sector. While the SLTDA allows foreigners to be employed in roles such as chefs, managers, and therapists—primarily in high-standard hotels and restaurants—many are allegedly bypassing these rules.

“Some foreigners, often backed by influential individuals, obtain resident visas through immigration channels without proper SLTDA approval,” the official revealed. In some cases, these visas are issued for small establishments that do not meet the required standards.

In addition to visa breaches, many of these foreign workers and business operators avoid paying the mandatory Tourism Development Levy and fail to maintain required deposits in International Resident Accounts (IRA). These foreign-run operations reportedly provide services predominantly to tourists from their own countries, with transactions conducted through electronic methods that bypass the local economy.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala responded to the situation by stating, “Foreigners are deported if visa regulations are violated. We are increasing efforts to curb these practices.”

The Ministry is reportedly working to address loopholes and curb corrupt practices within immigration processes that enable such violations, which have persisted for years.