Seventy-six Indonesian nationals who were residing in Sri Lanka in violation of immigration laws were arrested on the afternoon of 20 March during a raid carried out in Negombo.

The arrests were made at a tourist hotel in the Poruthota area by a team of officers from the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

According to officials, the individuals had entered the country on tourist and business visas. However, 36 of them had overstayed their visas, while the remainder were found to be in breach of visa conditions and residing in the country unlawfully.

Among those arrested were six women.

On the instructions of Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Chaminda Pathiraja, the group has been placed in custody at the Welisara Detention Centre.

Authorities stated that steps will be taken to deport the individuals from the country at the earliest.