FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – The Sri Lankan cabinet has given its approval for a bilateral agreement focused on immigration control collaboration with China, with the aim of facilitating lawful travel and addressing transnational crime, according to Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.
This agreement, which involves Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration and the National Immigration Administration of the People’s Republic of China, is designed to improve institutional coordination, enhance intelligence sharing, and strengthen border management practices.
Jayatissa emphasized that the agreement will simplify visa and immigration processes for individuals involved in business, investment, and tourism while also implementing stringent measures against organized crime and human trafficking.
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In addition, the agreement will promote official visits between heads of institutions and will provide support for training workshops aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of immigration personnel.
Before obtaining cabinet approval, the proposal was reviewed and endorsed by the Attorney General as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism.
When questioned about whether the agreement was influenced by incidents involving Chinese tourist-visa holders in online scams, Jayatissa refuted any connection between recent criminal arrests and the bilateral agreement. “There is no relationship between those arrests and the MoUs we enter into. This agreement is the outcome of in-depth discussions conducted over an extended period,” he stated.
He also noted that foreign nationals from various regions, including Europe and Central Asia, have been involved in illegal activities, which are being addressed by law enforcement and judicial systems.
According to Jayatissa, this partnership represents a broader institutional approach aimed at capacity building, information sharing, and security collaboration, rather than a response to particular criminal incidents.
(Colombo/Sep1/2026)
