Sri Lanka faces criticism for the new visa policy

Following resistance and technical issues, Sri Lanka is seeking ways to mitigate the impact of its recent changes to the visa process. The new regime, implemented two weeks ago, faced criticism over increased costs and allegations of irregularities.

According to The Hindu, concerns have been raised that the higher visa fees might discourage tourists. Additionally, there have been accusations suggesting corruption in the decision to outsource visa processing, along with claims of undue influence.

As of April 17 this year, travelers to Sri Lanka are required to utilize a new portal managed by VFS, replacing the earlier Electronic Travel Authorization system known for its efficiency and accessibility. This transition was based on a cabinet decision from the previous year.

The introduction of the VFS system has nearly doubled Sri Lanka's visa fees, with additional charges including an $18.5 service fee and a $5 convenience fee. Tourism Minister Harin Fernando has expressed opposition to these fees, stating they were not part of the original agreement. He also clarified that the decision was not made by his ministry, despite allegations to the contrary. Furthermore, he mentioned ongoing efforts by his ministry to propose visa-free travel for citizens of 50 countries.

Concerns were also raised online regarding the involvement of "Indians" in visa issuance at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. However, the Indian High Commission clarified that the companies involved are not based in India and any reference to India in this context is unwarranted.

Regarding the companies involved in the new system, The Hindu reported that GBS Technology Services is Singapore-based and partners with IVS Global Services, a company incorporated in Maharashtra in 2010. IVS Global also processes Indian visa applications for Sri Lankans. VFS Global, founded in India in 2001, is currently headquartered in Zurich and Dubai, and was acquired by American private equity firm Blackstone in 2021.

Despite the Sri Lankan government's intention to promote tourism, the increase in visa fees has raised concerns among industry stakeholders. Nishad Wijetunga, president of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators, expressed confusion over the replacement of the previous simple and effective system with one that imposes higher costs on visitors.

A specific issue has arisen for Indian travelers, who previously benefited from waived visa fees since October 2023. However, under the new system, Indian applicants are required to pay approximately $23, covering convenience and service charges despite the visa itself being free.

Another complaint concerns the unavailability of the cheaper single-entry visa option. The public security minister has announced plans to reintroduce a more affordable 30-day single entry visa option.