More than 14,300 visas have been issued to individuals entering the Colombo Port City project, an official from the Department of Immigration and Emigration has informed the Committee on Public Finance (COPF).
The disclosure came amid concerns raised by parliamentarians over transparency, accountability and the monitoring of visa holders entering the Port City.
Questions led by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and other committee members focused on immigration landing endorsements and the visas issued to individuals accessing the project.
During the discussion, officials were questioned about whether authorities track visitors after their arrival and ensure that they complete the mandatory 30-day regulatory procedures required to regularise their documentation.
Officials explained that monitoring was based on periodic monthly reporting, rather than real-time checks of every individual visitor to confirm whether they had arrived and completed the required procedures.
Committee members criticised the limitations in the monitoring system, questioning how authorities could ensure accountability and verify compliance among more than 14,000 visa holders without continuous oversight.
The discussion also highlighted administrative concerns, including the absence of a dedicated Legal Director position within an organisation of such scale. Critics argued that this shortcoming could affect the efficiency and transparency of processes aimed at attracting legitimate investment to the Port City.
