There are reports in Colombo newspapers that all foreigners are to get photographed on arrival. This is because several persons on tourist visas have entered the country, ' who have posed a threat to national security, '
Some observers thought that the end to hostilities would bring the country back to normality.
Don't be daft Ian, you know better than that. This is a country that tries to attract much needed tourists by doubling admission charges to the main attractions. I presume this relates to the UK journalists who tried to get to the north a few months ago after being refused entry as journalists (in case they wrote something nasty about the conditions in the prison, sorry, resettlement camps.) I will have to remember to comb my hair and put a nice shirt on before landing next time.
To put it in context, though, I had to get fingerprinted and photographed (mounted digital camera) to get into the US and Canada.
In the UK you can't even walk around London without being photographed on multiple surveillance cameras.
So, a photograph - that the bureaucracy won't be able to find anyway - seems rather non intrusive.
Hi,
I also read a couple of articles saying exactly what Ian has said.
How they'll manage that in practise I can't even begin to imagine.
I thing they have already lengthened the immigration time with the body temperature scanner to catch anyone trying to sneak into the country with swine flu.
I've been told that sometimes there's been up to three aircraft loads of people crushing together to get through the scanner. Probably, the one person in the middle of the crush who has the flu, then passing it on to everyone else.
While the flight crew, probably the most likely to have it because of their time spent in the aircraft air-con systems, walk straight past.
I actually think, the photo idea is rearing it's head because of the riots between the two different Muslim groups recently.
One Muslim group were celebration a festival and the second group, who didn't agree with this festival, attacked the first bunch.
Lots of people injured, a couple dead and lots of damage to buildings, cars, motor cycles, etc.
Evidently, the main trouble makers were in the country illegally, having overstayed their visa time.
I think there's about 130 people in custody and they're still looking for the middle eastern Muslim guy who instigated the riots but as they don't have photo of him they're finding it dificult.
So,, prepare to have your photo taken.
perhaps they'll have one of those cardboard cut out things that you get in a seaside fairground. Someone dressed in a shirt and sarong and you just stand behind it and poke your head through the hole for the photo.
Rod.
I hope that they don't start finger printing as well. Japan started finger printing and taking pictures of all foreigners on arrival a couple of years ago...
As I read it, it hasn't been implimented yet, still in the discussion stage.
Like lots of other things, it may happen or may just fade away.
However the government in SL are like most governments today. The make an announcement saying what they propose to do and say they will consult before implementation. They pay some ' advisors ' to say that it is OK and take that as authority to do whatever they like..
The latest ' proposal ' is to stop the visa on arrival scheme and force visitors to get visas before travel. Great idea ! They are trying to get more tourists so they make it more difficult to go to SL... Maybe people will just go to Thailand instead where there are no visa problems...
Here is the link http://colombotoday.com/english/articles/Lite/Govt.-stop-issuing-visas-BIA/4917.htm