A Sri Lankan youth with a forged visa has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport while attempting to flee to France, it was reported.

According to Lankadeepa, the youth is said to have paid Rs. 3.5 million to a Ugandan woman, and had acquired his forged visa with the intention of flying to France via Dubai.

The suspect who was arrested by officials of the Department of Immigration and Emigration at the Katunayake Airport is a 24-year-old resident of Matara.

The youth had been employed at a Colombo-based Casino and had travelled to Uganda two months ago to work at a Casino in the country.

A Ugandan woman who he had met during his employment is reported to have assisted in creating forged documents to travel to France. The youth is said to have collected the US $ 3000 required for the forged visa by selling land and jewelry belonging to his parents and his motorcycle.