Visa issue resolved: Sri Lanka back on tourist map
With Sri Lanka’s e-visa system back in operation the window is opened for travellers from anywhere to obtain entry through the online Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system being reactivated since midnight Thursday.
This has led to the tourism industry applauding the incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for intervening in this matter and resolving this crucial issue.
“We are thankful to the government,” Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Nishad Wijetunga told The Sunday Times Business adding that “No sooner the President was appointed we appealed to him that this was a crucial thing to be resolved.”
He pointed out that with the appointment of the new Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath and Ministry Secretary; they have been involved in ensuring the online ETA system being reactivated.
This came after the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Immigration Controller Harsha Illukpitiya to be remanded for failing to execute a court order to restore the old e-visa system operated by Mobitel. The order is pursuant to petitions filed by the tourism industry and three former parliamentarians against the VFS platform, accusing it of charging high visa fees and allegedly a corrupt deal. The case on contempt of court will be taken up again on January 22, 2025.
Mr. Wijetunga noted however, it is still too premature to know the reaction of future bookings since the booking season started in the beginning of September.
Meanwhile, the industry is in the process of informing tour operators overseas that the online ETA system is back in operation.
In fact, he noted, “We are very pleased about it and hopeful that although we are half way through the month we might be able to salvage some of the bookings that went away.”
On Thursday Mobitel had informed the Immigration Controller’s Office that they had been carrying out testing in the live environment with all stakeholders and had been in contact with Informatics, Sampath Bank, Nations Trust Bank and ICTA to ensure the restoration of the ETA system. This system was suspended in April 2024 and replaced with the VFS scheme which was then suspended.
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