Sri Lankan Community Representative Calls for Increased Vigilance on Certain Sri Lankan Visa Applications

Sri Lankan Community Representative Calls for Increased Vigilance on Certain Sri Lankan Visa Applications

Paris, France – July 22, 2026

A representative of the Sri Lankan community in France has formally written to the Paris Police Prefecture, with a copy addressed to the French Embassy in Sri Lanka, requesting heightened vigilance when assessing visa applications submitted by certain Sri Lankan religious figures whose public activities have been associated with allegations of hate speech, religious extremism, or incitement to ethnic and religious division.

The letter, submitted by Pierre Varrat (Alwis Pushpasiri), emphasizes that the request is not directed against Buddhism or any religious or ethnic community. Instead, it urges French authorities to carefully evaluate applications from individuals whose public records or activities could potentially pose risks to public order, social cohesion, or the principles of the French Republic.

According to the correspondence, the Sri Lankan diaspora in France includes Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and Christians who have established a peaceful and respectful coexistence despite Sri Lanka’s history of ethnic conflict.

The letter expresses concern that some groups may seek to import political, ethnic, or religious tensions from Sri Lanka into France through conferences, public events, or invitations extended to controversial figures.

Among the examples cited are individuals and organizations that have been publicly associated with nationalist rhetoric, judicial proceedings, or allegations of promoting intercommunal hostility in Sri Lanka. The author also refers to previous incidents involving Sri Lankan community organizations in France and notes concerns over attempts to organize events featuring speakers considered divisive.

The correspondence clarifies that it does not request an automatic refusal of visas, but rather encourages French authorities to conduct careful, case-by-case assessments in accordance with French law and existing immigration procedures.

The author states that the initiative aims to preserve peaceful coexistence within the Sri Lankan diaspora in France while supporting the Republic’s values of liberty, equality, fraternity, secularism, and the rule of law.

The letter concludes by expressing confidence in the French authorities’ commitment to protecting public order and combating all forms of extremism while respecting due process and individual rights.

Editor’s Note:
The views expressed in the submitted letter are those of its author. Paris Telegraph reports on the existence and content of the correspondence as a matter of public interest. Visa decisions remain the sole responsibility of the competent French authorities, which assess each application individually under French law.