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Resident visa scheme to woo retired foreign nationals
Sunday, 8 June 2008 - 8:18 AM SL Time
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The Government has given approval to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to go ahead with a special resident visa scheme that would woo senior foreign nationals on retirement to spend the rest of their life in the country.
The Department expects its new scheme - a dream home for foreigners would attract more senior foreign nationals to the country with their savings which would contribute to boost the national economy especially in tourism, real estate and other related sectors which have currently faced a setback due to the drop in the number of tourists.
Controller General, P. B. Abeykoon said the previous scheme offered tourists a visiting visa that was valid for six months which had to be renewed.
We noticed that it was a common practice among foreigners to leave for the Maldives and return on the same day via the returning flight just to change their visa , he said.
Hence, wasting money in making the trip to the Maldives to change your visa is not required and this can be utilised to help the nation s economy , he said. Under this scheme, foreign applicants should remit US$15,000 or the equivalent in an approved foreign currency and deposit them in a fixed deposit account in an approved commercial bank.
They should deposit a monthly remittance of US$ 1,500 or equivalent in an approved foreign currency for the principal applicant and US$ 750 or the equivalent in approved foreign currency for each spouse and dependant child (if accompanied by spouse/children) to a savings or current account for their upkeep.
This residence visa issued is valid for a maximum of two years and is renewable depending on the conduct of the visa holder. We will review the scheme to check whether it is suitable and whether the foreigners will benefit from it , said Abeykoon.
The advantages of foreigners staying in the country are beneficial for tourism, real estate and also domestic employment.
They can enjoy Sri Lanka s weather, take nature trips, research and also enjoy the local culture. He said that Sri Lanka s climate and cost-of-living is relatively economical for foreigners and they can enjoy themselves in the country-side and rural areas.
As soon as the program was launched last month, foreigners took maximum advantage of the scheme and by saving the unnecessary trip to the Maldives, they took a holiday here, he said.
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mareesa03
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 8 Jun 2008 12:06:14 GMT Report for Abuse
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Resident visa scheme to woo retired foreign nationals..
Sri Lanka is in a very bad shape, because of its foolish 'King' Raja (Paksa)..
This is the reason they are looking for some more Arther C. Clerks to milk dollars by any means.
But to attract this foreign dollar holders, the colorful lies they are making is the interesting part of it..
Number 1.
(They can enjoy Sri Lanka s weather, take nature trips, research and also enjoy the local culture. He said that Sri Lanka s climate and cost-of-living is relatively economical for foreigners and they can enjoy themselves in the country-side and rural areas).
What a big lie is this..
Cost of living of Sri Lanka is economical now? Is it cheaper?
Where you go for Nature trips? Angoda
What kind of bogus lies they are spreading to bring Clark's here?
The foreigners are not so fools like Sinhalese..
There are better places for them to go, not this fools Kingdom.
May be the beach boys are in big trouble these days? 'Tora Malu Natuwa Ati' Ane Paw..lols
Edited By - mareesa03 - 8 Jun 2008 12:08:31 GMT |
Sintamus
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 8 Jun 2008 13:28:12 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Resident visa scheme to the retired foreign nationals and interest rate of 20% for those deposit of USD 10,000 are desperate measures to attract foreign currency. Banks refused to underwrite 5-year bonds to raise foreign currency.
The Government has given approval to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to go ahead with a special resident visa scheme that would woo senior foreign nationals on retirement to spend the rest of their life in the country.
The government is starved of foreign currency and those in the North food and medicine.
Fishing restrictions push Jaffna fisher-families to starvation |
mari
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 8 Jun 2008 14:28:44 GMT Report for Abuse
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By the way, there is no hair on my head that even thinks about depositing $10.000,- in one of your banks. First of all I refuse to stuff pockets of these pundits in your governement, second, the direction this country is heading now I don't think I will ever see it again.
Your governement has realy got no idea of how the western world looks upon them at this moment. |
mari
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8 Jun 2008 14:56:11 GMT Report for Abuse
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| By the way, anyone who knows what happened with the Sunday Times on the internet? |
MahaDev
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 8 Jun 2008 17:24:58 GMT Report for Abuse
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woo senior foreign nationals on retirement to spend the rest of their life in the country.
Rest in Peace??? |
justman
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8 Jun 2008 18:14:53 GMT Report for Abuse
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I doubt that the offer given to foreigners are reasonable.Asking each one of an elderly couple to deposit 15,000 bit too much when SL offers too little for their comfort,when there are too many restrictions to their movement,like asking a couple who needs a peaceful atmosphere to come and live in a war zone.Are they entitled to the free medical facilities of the state hospitals? With NO DEPOSITS OR DECLARATIONS OF OVERSEAS INCOME,if the citizens of EU should be able to settle easily in any warmer southern part of Europe with much social benefits of the EU treaties then why should they prefer SL?.Why don't the SL government understand this?Most of the foreigners who go in and out to Maldive to secure an visa may be up to no good.
Best way to attract the genuine foreigners is to allow them to buy a house not less than $40,000 and make it his/her own main home in SL,but declare his income with an income tax reference and they should be allowed to work (only a limited number will take this offer as they would like to really retire or the could derive an income from their investments either in SRI LANKA or abroad.I doubt Sri Lanka is an attractive place for foreigners to live,unless incentives are given to them to do so.I have studied this for decades,not even my own kin born abroad likes to live there,unless gosl come out with an realistic proposal to the foreigners.Hard working Principal of trinity collage was booted out,CEO of Srilankan is booted out and where is the guarantee the state can give against very stupid allegations against them that make them venerable,thus losing their immigration status overnight?Decent countries in the world truly welcome foreigners who have been given PR status then don't withdraw at any moment over some stupid, political or other equally religious reasons as it hapens so often in Sri Lanka.
Edited By - justman - 8 Jun 2008 18:27:39 GMT |
mari
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8 Jun 2008 18:42:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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| And.... don't forget the 100% extra tax when bying a house. That's what they should skip first when they want our money. |
Gaja
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 8 Jun 2008 21:59:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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The Department expects its new scheme - a dream home for foreigners would attract more senior foreign nationals to the country with their savings which would contribute to boost the national economy especially in tourism, real estate and other related sectors which have currently faced a setback due to the drop in the number of tourists.
Malaysian pensioners who resided in Vaddukoddai are known to be the root cause of the claim for Separate State / Autonomy by Mr. Appapillai Amirthalingam. Foreign nationals returning to 'show off' their wealth without the feeling of service would be colonization by western countries
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam - Australian Tamil
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8 Jun 2008 08:46:31 GMT