Description

British National and social media influencer Kayliegh Frazer’s passport was seized, and later her visa was terminated and asked to leave the country, by the immigration officials, apparently due to her support to the ongoing protests against the government. She had been posting about the ongoing crisis and protests in Sri Lanka in her instagram profile. Authorities argued that she could not do so as she had come on a medical visa. On 2nd August 2022, Sri Lankan immigration officers seized her passport and informed her that they needed to investigate on purpose of visit and she was asked to visit the Immigration and Emigration department after 7 days. Following the investigation, on 10ht August immigration department terminated her visa and asked her to leave the country by 15th August. On 12th August Kayleigh filed a writ petition against the decision taken by the Department of Immigration and Emigration to deport her from Sri lanka. On 16th August the writ petition was considered before the Court of Appeal under Judge Sobotha Rajakaruna and he dismissed the writ petition, noting that the Controller General of the Department of immigration and emigration has right to terminate or cancel a visa without providing reasons as confirmed by previous rulings delivered by the Supreme Court as well. However, she did not leave the country, following the court decision, she is believed to be living in hiding in Sri Lanka.