By Sri Lanka’s Visa Chaos: A Barrier to Tourism
Once a sought-after destination in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has now made it difficult for travelers to visit due to complications surrounding an online visa link. This link, crucial for obtaining a visa before arrival, has turned into a significant obstacle, effectively closing the island’s doors to many potential visitors.
Tourism, a vital industry for Sri Lanka, is facing unprecedented challenges as obtaining a visa has become more cumbersome than ever. The Department of Immigration, responsible for processing visas, has provided little to no support in resolving these issues. According to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Sri Lankan missions worldwide have been informed by the Immigration Department that they cannot issue tourist visas as the system is currently inoperative. This has forced tourists to rely on the visa-on-arrival facility at Bandaranaike International Airport.
The missions are only authorized to issue official and transit visas free of charge. Tourists are now advised to obtain their visas upon arrival in Sri Lanka, an option that is not available for passport holders from countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, and North Korea, among others. Citizens of these nations must apply for visas through a representative at the Department of Immigration and Emigration’s Head Office.
The root of the issue lies in a Supreme Court interim order issued on August 2, which suspended the new visa system under the Global VFS platform and mandated a return to the previous system. Despite this order, the relevant authorities have failed to act swiftly, leaving the situation in disarray. The Immigration Department’s official website announced the suspension of the current visa platform, directing tourists to obtain visas on arrival during this interim period.
However, the lack of clarity and communication has led to confusion and frustration among travelers and the tourism industry. The tourism sector, scrambling to mitigate the damage, has issued its own updates to inform travel agents and operators of the situation. Initially, they assured that visas could still be obtained on arrival at the airport for a fee of $50. However, as days passed without the restoration of the previous Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, industry groups took action.
On August 5, the tourism industry issued a more urgent communiqué, urging the Controller General of Immigration, along with the Attorney General and Mobitel, to reinstate the old system as per the Supreme Court order. A strongly worded letter, signed by several major tourism associations, warned that failure to comply would be considered contempt of court.
The ongoing visa issue not only tarnishes Sri Lanka’s image as a tourist-friendly destination but also threatens to further harm an already struggling tourism sector. Without immediate action, Sri Lanka risks alienating the very visitors it seeks to attract
