A group of 125 Chinese nationals detained in Sri Lanka for involvement in online financial fraud has been deported.

According to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the deportation was carried out using a special aircraft sent from China following discussions between the two governments. 

The individuals had been arrested on March 17 in Anuradhapura, where they were found staying in several lodges and engaging in internet‑based financial scams.

Investigations revealed that the group had entered Sri Lanka on tourist and business visas but remained in violation of immigration laws. 

They were subsequently held at the Welisara Detention Centre until arrangements were made for deportation.

A team of officials from China’s Immigration Department, accompanied by a doctor, arrived in Sri Lanka to oversee the process. 

The deportation took place last night, with six officials from Sri Lanka’s Immigration Department also traveling to China alongside the group. (Newswire)

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Three individuals who were deported from India and are allegedly connected to criminal activities in Sri Lanka have been taken into custody by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) at the Katunayake Airport.

It was reported that these suspects were deported from India to Sri Lanka yesterday, via an aircraft belonging to an Indian airline.

According to Indian media reports, the three individuals had illegally entered Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka. They had crossed into Tamil Nadu by boat approximately 15 days ago.

Upon arrival in India, it was discovered that they possessed no legal documentation to remain in the country. Reports also indicate that these individuals are facing multiple ongoing legal cases in Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, the three suspects are believed to have links to the cache of explosives that were discovered recently in the Valvettithurai area in Jaffna. The cache of explosives discovered in that incident was reportedly hidden by the LTTE during the civil war. (Newswire)

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The Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court has ordered that the equipment seized from Chinese nationals involved in cybercrimes in Sri Lanka be handed over to an authorised official of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo.

Teldeniya Magistrate Devika Chathurangani Jayawardena issued the order yesterday, instructing that all equipment, including mobile phones and computers that had been in the custody of the Court, be handed over to the Chinese Embassy official. 

Presenting a motion to the court, officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had requested the court to issue the said order. 

Following the court order, the Chinese suspects were moved to the Welisara Detention Centre yesterday, after which they are to be deported from Sri Lanka. 

A total of 130 Chinese suspects, including 108 Chinese men and 22 Chinese women, were arrested while staying at a star hotel in Kundasale, Kandy and were produced before the Teldeniya Magistrates’ Court.

Thereafter, the Teldeniya Court had seized 206 mobile phones, 121 laptops and other computer equipment in their possession.

However, yesterday, Teldeniya Magistrate Devika Chathurangani Jayawardena ordered that all of these devices be handed over to a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo through officers of the CID.

Meanwhile, seven of these Chinese suspects had evaded the Teldeniya Court on three occasions, due to which the court had issued arrest warrants for them.

The remaining 122 Chinese national suspects were handed over to the Welisara Detention Centre yesterday following an extradition order by the Teldeniya Court.

It is reported that the group, excluding the seven suspects who have evaded court, will be deported from Sri Lanka in the coming days.

It is reported that 85 of the Chinese suspects were deported from Sri Lanka this morning.

According to media reports, the group had been taken to the Katunayake Airport in 05 buses and were deported to Guangzhou, China on a special Sri Lankan Airlines flight this morning. (Newswire)

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Fifteen (15) Indian nationals who had stayed in Sri Lanka violating visa conditions have been arrested and deported to India.

According to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the group which had arrived in Sri Lanka through tourist visas was found to be involved in various activities in the country.

Eight Indian nationals had been working as carvers in a sawmill in Jaffna, while five were working in restaurants, and two were found to be engaged in activities related to religious propaganda. 

Two Indians who had been preparing to hold a religious conference in Jaffna on 05 and 07 March were arrested following protests against them by local Hindu organizations. 

The Indian nationals were arrested during a raid in Jaffna, carried out under the orders of Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, Nilusha Balasuriya.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration deported the group to Chennai, India last week (08 Mar). (Newswire)

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Another group of Sri Lankans from among those rescued off a Vietnamese-flagged fishing vessel that was found to be in distress in the Vietnam Seas on 07th November 2022, have been deported to Sri Lanka. 

The Sri Lanka Navy stated that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo stationed at the Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters promptly coordinated the rescue of the 303 Sri Lankans who were temporarily settled in Vietnam upon rescue. 

Among the rescued Sri Lankans, 151 were deported from Vietnam and they arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake on 28th December 2022. 

The Sri Lanka Navy said another 23 Sri Lankans from the rescued group arrived at the Katunayake airport Wednesday, 19th April.

On 7th November 2022, the Navy Headquarters received the distress signal about the ill-fated Vietnamese-flagged fishing vessel (Lady R3), with 303 Sri Lankan nationals aboard. Responding promptly to the development, MRCC Colombo informed MRCC Singapore, MRCC Vietnam and MRCC Philippine of the rescue of people in distress at sea, within the control of those MRCCs.

Accordingly, MRCC Singapore and Vietnam in a coordinated Search and Rescue operation managed to rescue the group of Sri Lankans by deploying MV ‘HELIOS LEADER’. Upon being rescued they were taken away to Vietnam by a SAR vessel on 09th November and temporarily settled there.

Investigations had revealed that the group of Sri Lankans have flown to Myanmar from Sri Lanka legally and were on an illegal migration attempt from there, with the help of international human smugglers.

The Navy stated that among the group deported, last week were 15 males and 06 females who are from 19 to 50 years of age and 02 individuals below 18 years. They have been identified as residents of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. 

Relevant authorities including the Department of Immigration and Emigration will carry out the legal proceedings into the incident. (NewsWire)

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