Govt. rolls out health plans for residential visa holders

Riding high on a post-war tourism boom the Sri Lankan government has decided to roll out a new healthcare policy for residential visa applicants, a minister said here on Thursday.

Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told media that on a proposal made by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena it was decided to implement a policy to conduct a health assessment for the resident visa applicants to Sri Lanka.

“With the increased development activities taking place in the country after the conflict situation, it has been observed that quite a large number of foreigners obtain resident visas to Sri Lanka to participate in investment and other related activities,” Rambukwella said.

An Immigration Health Unit will be established at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in collaboration with the Health Ministry to verify the health assessment documents of residential visa holders.

Sri Lanka has seen a 33 per cent growth of tourism in 2011 with arrivals expected to top 800 000 by year end along with consistent eight per cent economic growth. 

Moreover since the country’s three decade war ended in 2009 the government has spent over six billion US dollars in infrastructure development, which has attracted foreign workers raising health concerns.