The government is to offer an extent of 100 perches from the land in close proximity to the Katunayake International Airport at Katana in the Gampaha District identified as Kahadiyawala Watta, to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to establish a transit centre to hold foreigners overstaying their visas in Sri Lanka.

This land had earlier been assigned to the Tourist Development Authority to establish a tourist hub.

With the recent significant increase in tourist arrivals into Sri Lanka there is also a tendency for some foreigners to remain in the country even after the expiration of their visas or period of stay. Since the Department of Immigration and Emigration has networked its border controls it can identify within a short time the foreigners who overstay their visas.

The Department is tasked with detaining such persons and also providing them the necessary facilities till they are sent back to their countries.

This land initially intended as part of the Tourist Development Authority’s tourist hub is to be offered to the Department of Immigration and Emigration due to its close proximity to the Katunayake International Airport.