‘No visa on arrival’ to Sri Lanka
A new online visa scheme for all visitors will be introduced soon replacing the current on arrival visa for selected countries, Sri Lanka authorities say.
Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Chulananda Perera told BBC Sandeshaya that representatives of tourism industry whom he recently met agreed that it is a much improved measure than the current system of granting visa.
The tourism industry has earlier expressed concern that the new system might hamper the government’s attempts to promote tourism in post-war Sri Lanka.
But Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa says the new measure was aimed at helping tourists.
‘At home visa’
“We have changed the on-arrival visa to at home visa,” Mr Rajapaksa told BBC Sandeshaya.
The tourists intending to visit Sri Lanka could apply online supply few details such as name, passport number and date of birth, he said.
“Now anybody can apply visa from home and they would receive it within 24-72 hours.”
The government says that the new measure would be introduced soon but there will be a trail period until it comes into force.
According to information provided by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, citizens of 81 countries including the USA and UK currently can obtain a landing endorsement for a 30-day period at Colombo’s Bandaranaike international airport.
Only citizens from Maldives and Singapore will be exempt from obtaining visa as a reciprocate measure.
Mr Perera says the date of its implementation will soon be announced.
“There have been instances, for example, of visa being rejected at the airport but now you can get the response while you are at home,” Minister Rajapaksa said.
He added that the government has allowed a trial period for those who are yet to get used to the new visa system. And until the visitors get used to the new system, the minister said, a parallel system of on-arrival and online visa will be operated.
“And there will be special facilities at the airport for those arrive with the online visa.”
The authorities however stress that the current system of on-arrival visa would not be annulled without properly informing the tourists and other visitors.
News Source: BBC Sinhala – By Saroj Pathirana
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The new visa systerm is too late to practise,The governmant should have introduced soon as finished the war with ltte terrorists to stopped the western disapora terrorists.now the governmant has to think the tourists industry,Because lot of fireign countries there promoting the srilanka tourist industry.
Good Move
I can visualise Pillayan’s affiliations to the LTT rum and Terrorist Tamil Diaspora.
Keep away from Pillayan unless you want the final embrace from a dynamite clad LTT super-lass.
Guru has become paranoid about Pillayan and sees LTTE bogeys under every stone and in every Tamil face. I am sorry to say, you have become sick in the head. Guru need to learn to live and tolerate other communities and no longer think of SL as the solely for Sinhalese only. The true natives of SL are the Aadhivaasis(Veddhas/ Aboriginees)who lived at the time Vijaya landed in Mannar. So please stop inciting racial hatred. You are a disgrace to the Sinhalese race and to Buddhism!
Applying on-line for a visa by tourists will shorten waiting time in queues on arrival at the airport. It will also help to properly assess genuine tourists from bogus ones, diaspora LTTE, and criminals who may try to enter SL with hostile intent.
It’s obviously a best way of limiting the so called “Privileged Gang” (i.e. Europeans and others) so that these countries will not take us for granted anymore.
One should also notice how Sri-Lankans suffer when applying visas to go to various countries. Tourism Industry isn’t going to suffer just becos. our country has implemented an On-line procedure.
As Nicholas said..there should be controlling mechanism implemented now that LTTE Cronies would try to infiltrate our country with those on arrival priviledges…
Moreover, its understood, some revenues would also bring about to our country on this as much as other long term benefits by this system.
It’s always one section or a Group that’s most concerned while implementing something in our Country. These idiots aren’t concerned about the Country’s wellfare but their own greed.
If you promote Sri-Lanka which is considered the Second best place on earth….anyone who decides to arrive would certainly follow all the procedures, which is in our case we are obliged to apply for visas everytime we travel to other countries.
From Abu Dhabi
I agree with Pillayan.
In a way it is good, but in a way it is bad.
Mohamed Shareef Asees
This’s an extrem important step.! Despite the tourism or anything else, SL shouldn’t keep free entrance 4 visitors.! Doing so We must respect our great, unique culture & independency. We’re Srilankans to day, because of the buddhism.! This’ll not be such a good place, if it wasn’t so.! Even the desert countries’re very restrict to enter to day, but tht’s because of money. We’re not so, we respect to “being well mannered” than money. Money’s worthless which have ill mannered ones. So this’s a historical decision to keep our identity & respect 4 the well being of us.!
Western countries like USA and UK charge heavy fees for an entry visa and have strict visa regulations. They fear terrorism, so they have strict border control policies.
LTTE is not dead. We have only eliminated the architect VP and some military leaders. But some hard core elements escaped and some are in custody. The biggest threat is the hardcore diaspora LTTE. We have also to contend with their politcal wing, TNA. They are still brainwashing the ordinary Tamil SL citizens with their poisonous propaganda against GOSL and the Sinhalese. They are still fighting for Tamil nationalism. They are trying to turn India against SL and mobilise its support.
It is therefore very important to have proper border controls as in the West through visas. This way the applicants can be properly vetted whether they are genuinely bona fide tourists they claim to be. By having online applications it will be easier to process. This is better than the protocols imposed by the West. I feel sorry for applicants who wait in long queues outside High Commissions of these Western countries for a visa. After paying a huge fee and waiting in long queues a whole day, and being subjected to an interview like a criminal, most do not even get their visas. This is abominal the way the imperial West treat us. We should pay back in the same coin but not in a way to hurt the tourist industry. Let us charge a reasonable fee for a visa for adminstrative purpose, like other countries, and not cheapen ourselves.
My Dear guru sathyadasa,as mr.N.D. said you are a very disapointed JVP person,people like you create Ltte terrorist.You are digraced to entire srilanken community, and people like you against the srilanken peace prosess.Jvp is not the jvp like 1970.They are the most idiots in srilanka without brains at all.That is why the best Jvp gay Wimal left the Party.
We can not compair srilanka with UK USA or other foreign countris.As i said after finishing the war with LTTE terrorist, srilanken governmant should have ask all foreigners and specialy The tamils who came to visit srilanka they have to have visa to enter to srilanka.The Biggest threat srilanka got is with singhala kotti, like Guru Sathyadasa,sarathponseka,JVP,and some of UNPs.So the problem is not with Ltte Disapora,Also with So call singhala kotti.
Pillayan is right. Guru expresses views that are JVP views. Hence he must be a JVP man vomitting JVP tripe. On the one hand he claims we should recognise Tamil nationalism and partition the country, and on the other hand he states he is with the Sinhalese Buddhist nationalists and want homeless Sinhalese Buddhists to settle down enmasse in the North. He is running with the hare as well as running with the hounds. Guru is thereby contradicting himself.
Guru labels, totally unfairly, Pillayan as a ‘sleeper’ LTTE cadre. This is his assumption, which is paranoid. Pillayan is a Tamil Sri Lankan citizen with equal rights, and he is patriotic. Guru fails to appreciate when Pillayan lays into the diaspora LTTE disinformation. Instead he criticises Pillayan and looks at him suspiciously. Guru is a sad man who sees an LTTE ‘sleeper’ in every SL Tamil he comes across were they to express patriotic feelings in support of ONE NATION.
Wimal W left JVP to form NFF because he could not stand anymore the two faced hypocrisy of the JVP, and their misleading arguments and disinformation, to cause chaos in SL, in order to capture power by civil unrest they incited themselves. JVP is totally dishonest and evil. They should be wiped off the face of the earth along with TNA and diaspora LTTE. The Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslims can then get down to the honest business of fast-track economic development for a better future for the whole nation for generations to come.
All Friends..! Here we dnt want 2 comment abt our political views. Coz Actualy jvp’s responsible 4 1000s of deaths of youths in SL, Tht’s all their miserable history. They’re the ones who made no value 4 the human lives in SL. They’ve done nothing any good here as they make violence in SL. They never can compensate 4 their crimes &This miserable blood group’ll be washed out soon by the nature. We knw abt them. So dnt worry abt their comments & make ur just, unbiased comments here.
should make the visa scheme simple, sri lanka needs tourism. I think best is give visa on arrival at the airport. Have a counter at the airport giving visas, but charge usd 10 per passenger for 2week visa & usd 20 for 30day visa. some places like bintan, indonesia follow this procedure. which is hassle free for tourists
I am Sri lankan, when I go to Indonesia I have to go very hard time to get my visit visa even I married to a Indonesian lady…we give them 30 days free with out any stress for them but they treat us very badly…some time have to go 2, 3 days to get visa, they put you in great stress and even we have to pay for it….when we go to their embassy if we ask for 30 days…they will take proper 30 days but some time they will give how many days they wish…no respect….when we go to their country and try to extend visa when we say from Sri lanka they will put us lot of pressure….our government must look in to this….how sri lankan suffer even giving right document for visa how this people treat us…even they know me many times I apply, still they treat you like low…why our government don’t look in to this what this people doing to us…we Sri lanka been friends to them giving them 30 days on arrive visa they treat us like beggars coming to take visa even we pay for it…
I know some sri lankan illegally entering with boat to their country but they should not do this to honest people who want to go there…they dont even respect even I am married to Indonesian…and have a child born in Indonesia…
Disappointing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This online visa thing is good…no need to worry
People with kind heart to Sri lanka they will always come…
we Sri lanka always be helpful never give any one stress to honest people when it comes to visa….like Indonesia give…you have to face this visa people as I face for this last 2 year in there country…..tears will come…..believe me….they will treat you with out compassion