Lankan Dy Minister briefly detained at Nedumbaserry Airport

Kochi, June 27 (UNI) Sri Lankan Deputy Minister for Higher Education Mohd. Mustafa was briefly detained at the Nedumbaserry International Airport, near here, today for arriving without a valid visa.

Mr Mustafa, who arrived in the city to attend an awards function of the Kerala Management Association this evening, was later issued a 'temporary landing permit' (TLP) by the Port Registration Officer and allowed to leave the airport. He was also levied a TLP fee of 40 US dollars.

He will be in the city till tomorrow.

Senior immigration officials at the airport confirmed that the Sri Lankan minister arrived here at about 1130 hrs by Sri Lankan Airlines Flight 165 without a valid visa.

However, they denied that the minister was detained and said that he ''waited'' in the immigration office while the temporary landing permit was arranged for him.

UNI