Pakistani among 4 arrested without visa in Sri Lanka

Colombo: Four foreign nationals including one from Pakistan who violated immigration and emigration regulations were arrested by the police in Sri Lanka during search operations.

The arrested persons include two Nigerians and one each from Pakistan and Bangladesh, News 1st reported.

The 25-year-old Pakistani and the 24-year-old Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in Grandpass for residing in the country without a valid visa.

The Nigerians, aged 26 and 31, who were residing without a valid visa, were arrested in Ukwatte, Avissawella.

The foreigners will be produced before courts. The country suspended its plans to grant visas on arrival to citizens of 39 countries after the devastating Easter suicide bombings.

Authorities are on a high-alert in the country after nine suicide bombers carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and three luxury hotels on the Easter Sunday on April 21, killing 253 people and injuring over 500 people.

The Islamic State terror group claimed the attacks, but the government has blamed local Islamist extremist group National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) for the attacks.