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This is an archive article published on June 28, 2007

Sri Lankan minister lands without visa

Sri Lankan Higher Education Minister Muhammed Mustafa had to spend a couple of hours at Cochin International Airport here...

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Sri Lankan Higher Education Minister Muhammed Mustafa had to spend a couple of hours at Cochin International Airport here on Wednesday as he didn8217;t have a visa to enter India.

Mustafa, who arrived here by a Sri Lankan Airlines flight to attend public functions in and around Kochi, failed to produce the visa during the routine checkup of travel documents by the emigration personnel at the airport.

The matter was immediately conveyed to the Superintendent of Police, Emigration, K E Joy. Musthafa, holding a diplomatic passport, reportedly explained to the SP that he possessed a visa to enter SAARC countries, including India. The visa was endorsed on his previous passport.

But the minister forgot to bring the previous passport when he arrived at Kochi airport. However, he was allowed to leave the airport when the SP, in his capacity as the port registration officer, granted a temporary landing permit for 24 hours, after accepting 40 as fee.

 

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