A crucial part of travel planning is to know the required process in obtaining that all important visa to travel to a foreign country, for a hassle free entry to the desired nation.
Here we lay out the relevant information and procedures of applying for travel visa to Sri Lanka under the tourist category.
Information source – https://www.slaito.com/post/joint-communique-slaito-thasl-sri-lanka-evisa-situation-update
JOINT COMMUNIQUE – SLAITO & THASL- Sri Lanka eVisa Situation Update
In the light of the developments related to the Sri Lanka visa process, where, following multiple Fundamental Rights Petitions being taken up in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, challenging the new eVisa system that was implemented on 17th April 2024, without prior warning, the Supreme Court, issued an interim order suspending with immediate effect, the Sri Lanka eVisa portal run by VFS Global. As a result of this order the platform is not available for online visa processing as at 17:00Hrs on Friday 2nd August 2024.
The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators and The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, wish to assure all overseas tour operator partners and all potential visitors to the Island, that in the absence of a functioning online visa platform, anyone visiting can avail themselves of a visa on arrival at the airport. Therefore if you have not obtained an online visa in preparation for your travel in the next few days, you can still travel and avail yourself of a ‘Visa on Arrival, at the same eVisa fee of US$ 50/- at the Immigration counters in the arrivals hall at the airport that are made available for this purpose.
The court order further stated that the ETA system that was in operation prior to mid April 2024, be restored and made available for obtaining of ETAs or Electronic Travel Authorizations, until further notice. We anticipate that the said ETA system will be up and running within the course of next week. A further update will be issued when this takes place.
