The Department of Immigration and Emigration will visit the southern coastal belt in early November to look for any overstaying tourists from countries like Russia and Israel, where an influx of tourists are expected in the emerging South season for Christmas, the Daily Mirror learns.

The tourist season for the southern Sri Lankan coastal belt will start in November and will last till March and April when foreign tourists from a range of countries both in the west and east will visit the island nation’s renowned and surfer-friendly sunny beaches.

An official from the Department of Immigration and Emigration told the Daily Mirror they usually conduct special visits during the Southern and Eastern coastal belts respectively from November to April and May to September.

It was learnt that a heavy influx of Russian tourists arrive in the South for Christmas vacation and Russian is among the six visa-free countries of Sri Lanka. All tourists get a 30-day tourist visa either they apply for an on-arrival visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

Once the 30-day tourist visa period is exhausted most of the tourists apply for an extension whilst a considerable amount remains further long without a valid visa.

The departmental officials have visited the eastern coastal belt including Arugam Bay during last March and June but not many overstaying tourists including Israelis were apprehended, the official said.

However, the authorities expect more visa violations like overstaying and doing business with a tourist visa by many foreign tourists during the South season and will commence counter operations to identify such travellers.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the government is to establish a mechanism to supervise and advice ministries in the implementation of policies, a source said.

A tense situation was reported at the UNP party headquarters in Sirikotha when a group of UNP supporters arrived to hand over a document on reviving the party.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva said today that an NPP MP has told him that the Parliament canteen will not be closed but the government will see that no one will abuse the facility.

Two fishermen were seriously injured and hospitalised after a parcel floating on the sea exploded while they were checking it off the coast of Mannar.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Examinations Department have initiated a joint programme to mitigate potential disasters during the 2024 Advanced Level examinations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka today. Following are 11 key points from the President’s Government Policy Statement;

Speaker Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala informed Parliament that nomination of Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been accepted as the Opposition Leader of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Jaffna District Independent MP Archuuna Ramanathan refused to move away after he sat on the Opposition Leader's seat inside the chambers despite requests by Parliament staff to move.

National People's Power (NPP) Gampaha MP Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka a short while ago. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya proposed his name, and the nomination was confirmed by Vijitha Herath.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake adjourned the Sri Lankan Parliament until 9:30 a.m. on December 3. The adjournment followed the President’s delivery of the government’s policy statement during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament earlier today.