Sri Lanka has registered a protest over a proposed visa scheme of the UK that would require first time travellers from six high-risk Afro-Asian countries to pay a hefty financial bond of 3,000 pounds.
External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatillake Amunugama said the British High Commissioner John Rankin was informed of Sri Lanka’s concerns.
The British Home office early this week announced a pilot project under which visitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana would be required from November this year to make a refundable cash deposit of sterling Pounds 3,000 for short-term visa applicants.
“The Ambassador told us that this was a temporary move. Only high-risk category applicants would be subject to the rule,” Amunugama said.
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