The one-month extension of the amnesty will definitely bring relief to those illegals who have yet to approach the consulate, the Sri Lankan Consul-General said yesterday.

According to Bandula Somasiri, the consulate received enquiries from employers of illegal Sri Lankan maids yesterday asking if it would be possible for them to keep the maids for another couple of weeks.

"I told the employers that it is in the interest of both the Sri Lankan maids and the employers to send them back home as she is illegal. I would like to urge people not to look to their own interests but consider the problems they are creating for their maids who do not have the necessary papers," he said.

Indian Consul General Dr George Joseph however felt that the authorities should not have declared the extension openly. "We did receive the usual crowd who thought yesterday to be the last day. However, as soon as they learnt a grace had been granted, most of them left."

"The trend of people turning up to get their outpasses on the last day will continue," he said.

Those standing in a row to get their papers processed on the last day at the Indian consulate seemed to care little that the amnesty deadline had been extended.

According to them, they are already branded illegal and it does not make any difference whether they go today or tomorrow. Many were relieved they would now get ample time to get their documents processed at the immigration.

Said Sunil Shastri, an Indian who came to process his papers: "What difference is it going to make to me? I have to go anyway. I did have a slight fear that as I have approached the consulate on the last day, I might get stuck at the immigration. I just heard about the extension from the consulate people. I heard them talking."

Why did he wait for so long and come to the consulate on the last day? "I had to get my money from the people I worked for. I am a construction worker. If I had not got it now I would have definitely stayed back," he said.

Abraham Fernandes, a Sri Lankan, said: "The extension is good for those illegals like me who are taking time to decide whether to go or not. The reason is simple. We came here in the first place to get a job. Now we will be going back and get stuck in the same quagmire. It is tough."

Another amnesty seeker, Satish Swamy, who was seen contemplating whether to get his papers processed, said: "I know I will be caught if I do not go. But then what will I do going back? Anyway, it is extended. I just do not know whether to wait or get my papers done."