The measure is aimed at preventing foreigners from visiting the North under the pretext of engaging in development projects to rouse communal disharmony among the people, the spokesperson said. Army Media Spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya at the media briefing said the foreign passport holders intend to visit the war-battered region should inform the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development about the nature of their visit and the area they intend to visit and obtain Ministry's prior permission to do so.
The spokesperson said that the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development has taken the decision to restrict foreigner visits to the North following information received by Government intelligence services that certain foreign nationals are engaged in spreading various opinions among different communities in the North to incite public disturbance and conflicts among the civilians, thereby threatening national security.