The government is inquiring into a major racket by Chinese nationals to claim a considerable portion of Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product in the same manner they acquired the golden triangle of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
‘Silumina’ reports that they had been aided by top officials of the police, immigration and emigration department and other state institutions.
Chinese nationals, barred from their own country over computer fraud, have been issued with resident permits here.
In Cambodia, they have acquired around 60 percent of that country’s GDP.
Experts on international relations say that country has been unable to take action against the fraudsters.
If the situation persists in Sri Lanka, the immigration and emigration permits as well as the GSP plus concession would be adversely impacted, they said.
China has cracked down on them, and a man who carried a red warrant and entered Sri Lanka on a Guinean permit, but deported home, has been sentenced to death.
Some of the Chinese who had been nabbed with fake resident visas had all permits issued by the state.
The boundary observation unit of the department notified the state intelligence service about them, who had entered the country on tourist visa.
Holders of tourist visa cannot engage in any income-earning activity.
They have invested heavily in the Colombo port city with the intention of claiming a majority stake, state intelligence believes.
IT firms set up by them recruit Sri Lankans at high salaries and are given specific targets to fulfil.
Questions have been raised over their telephone numbers and email addresses.
A detailed report about them is to be handed over to the president and other government authorities in the coming week.