Colombo, May 15 (IANS): Sri Lanka has cracked down on foreigners working illegally after an Indian died while working in a steel plant, an official said here Tuesday.

The Indian was identified as Manas Kumar Mallick who was electrocuted while working in a privately owned steel plant on the outskirts of capital Colombo, reported Xinhua citing local media.

As part of the probe, the immigration and emigration department is also calling on people to help identify illegally working foreigners.

"There have been increasing complaints that foreigners arrive as tourists but become employed illegally. This is a serious situation as they could be harmed and are depriving locals of jobs," Immigration and Emigration Controller Chulananda Perera told the media.

Since the beginning of this year, officials have arrested over 1,500 foreigners that were illegally residing in the country after overstaying their tourist visas.

Sri Lanka expects over one million tourist arrivals in 2012.