Tourists planning to visit Sri Lanka will need to obtain a visa on arrival due to the temporary suspension of the electronic visa system (e-Visa). As of Friday, August 2, travelers can no longer apply for visas online before traveling to Sri Lanka.
In a statement on the official government electronic visa issuance portal, VFS Global, the company managing the e-Visa system, announced the suspension. The statement read, “We have been notified of certain interim orders issued by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today pertaining to the agreement under which this platform is operated. In view of these orders, the website is suspended effective 2 August at 17:00 hours Sri Lanka Standard Time.”
VFS Global, which specializes in visa processing for governments, clarified that applicants whose visa applications are under process and who applied after 17:00 hours on August 2, will receive a refund. Applicants are advised to share their application reference number with [email protected].
Possible Reintroduction of the Previous ETA System
On April 17, 2024, Sri Lanka replaced its electronic travel authorization (ETA) system with an e-Visa process managed by a consortium including VFS Global, GBS Technology, and IVS Global Services.
However, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka suspended the e-Visa system on Friday by issuing an interim injunction invalidating the Cabinet’s decision to delegate the e-Visa service management to foreign companies. The suspension follows allegations of procedural violations, corruption, and breaches of public trust during the contracting process. The court’s decision aims to address these concerns and restore transparency.
The suspension will remain in place until the court rules on the petition. The Supreme Court also ordered the reinstatement of the previous ETA portal, operated by Mobitel, a Sri Lankan telecommunications company.
The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) announced that the ETA system is expected to be operational “within the course of next week” and expressed satisfaction with the reestablishment of the user-friendly ETA system. They promised to keep members updated on any further progress.
Viyani Gunathilaka, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the Department of Immigration and Emigration to resolve the situation swiftly.
Travelers Can Obtain a Visa on Arrival in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan diplomatic missions, including embassies in the UK, Germany, and Japan, are informing tourists without an approved e-Visa that they can apply for a visa on arrival in the country.
However, nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, North Korea, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria cannot obtain a visa upon arrival in Sri Lanka. Applicants from these countries must submit their applications to the Department of Immigration through a representative.