Sri Lanka Approves Immigration Pact with China to Boost Travel & Security 📈

• Key Highlights: Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved a bilateral immigration control agreement between the Department of Immigration and Emigration and China's National Immigration Administration to improve border management, institutional coordination, and intelligence sharing. • Sector Impact: The pact aims to streamline visa processes and facilitate legitimate movement for individuals engaged in tourism, investment, and foreign trade, while strengthening measures against organized crime and human trafficking. • Institutional Support: The agreement supports institutional head visits and specialized training workshops to upskill local immigration officers. The draft was cleared by the Attorney General and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. • Official Clarification: Government spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa clarified that the deal is a long-planned broader security initiative, dismissing links to recent arrests of foreign nationals or tourist-visa holders involved in cybercrimes.