An employee of the Tourism Development Authority was arrested for forging the signature of a director and issuing work visas recommendation letters to the Immigration Department for foreign nationals.

On July 22, the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) arrested the person who is said to have worked in the Finance Division of the Tourism Development Authority.

When contacted, Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said “We work very closely with Immigration and an inquiry made by them on two suspicious work visa recommendation letters was found to be forged with the signature of a director. Many such malpractices have been occurring in the past and we have since January been making changes.

We have zero tolerance for such activity that brings Sri Lanka Tourism into disrepute. Due to action being taken, there are attempts to discredit the leadership by some agitated staff however maximum action will be taken, the SLTDA said.