PB Abeykoon, Controller of Immigration and Emigration, said that Elder, who holds an Australian passport is given time to leave before Sept 21. Initially he was asked to immediately and his visa was cancelled with effect from September 7 but he got a breather on an appeal from the world body.
Abeykoon said the government took the decision some months ago based on ‘adverse remarks made to the media’, but he declined to give further details.
Elder arrived in Colombo in July last year. His residency visa is valid until 2010.
Sarah Crowe, UNICEF’s regional chief of communications, Sunday they were seeking more details on Elder’s visa status. ‘He has been UNICEF’s voice advocating on behalf of those who do not have a voice – children and the most vulnerable’.
