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Most Maldivians in Sri Lanka detained over expired visas: media reports

Fathmath Shaahunaz
01 May 2019, MVT 16:02
A Sri Lankan Navy personnel guards a road blocked near the port in Colombo on April 27, 2019, following a series of bomb blasts targeting churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. - Fifteen people including six children have died during a Sri Lankan security forces operation in the aftermath of the Easter attacks, as three cornered suicide bombers blew themselves up and others were shot dead, police said on April 27. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)
Fathmath Shaahunaz
01 May 2019, MVT 16:02

Most of the Maldivians detained in Sri Lanka after the Easter attacks were arrested over expired visas, local media reports.

Sri Lankan police arrested 13 Maldivians amidst the ongoing state of emergency in the country. Currently, eight individuals are still in custody.

According to local media outlet Mihaaru, most of them were detained due to expired visas, with some individuals reportedly having gone over a year without renewal.

While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not made any official statements on the alleged visa issues, the ministry's Director of Communications Miuvaan Mohamed on Wednesday urged all Maldivians residing in Sri Lanka to renew their visas before expiration. He warned that otherwise, Maldivians would face higher chances of legal action.

"It's not an everyday situation in Lanka right now. Hence, it is imperative that Maldivians respect and abide by the laws and regulations of Lanka", he said.

Two of the Maldivians were arrested after Sri Lankan police reportedly found the book 'Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS' in their residence. The Sri Lankan court remanded them last Saturday for a period of 13 days.

The police also detained four Maldivian students last weekend after finding drugs and an unlicensed air gun in their residence. However, the four of them were released on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Miuvaan Mohamed previously stated that the Maldivian embassy in Colombo is closely monitoring the situations of those who were arrested. He further disclosed that embassy officials escort the detainees to court for their remand process as well.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the string of bomb blasts across Sri Lanka, which killed over 250 people and injured 500 others on April 21. Sri Lanka announced a state of emergency in the wake of the attacks, and have since launched a mass crackdown to inspect residences across the country.

Approximately 13,000 Maldivians reside in Sri Lanka for educational, medical and other purposes. The Maldivian embassy has advised Maldivians to cooperate with authorities and stay indoors as well as keep passports and identification ready in case of an inspection.

The Maldivian embassy in Sri Lanka can be contacted via the hotlines +0768816666, +0766086660 and +0764189900 for consular services.

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