Sri Lanka reintroduces e-Visa system with visa-free entry for 35 countries to boost tourism

 

Sri Lanka has brought back its online visa system after halting a controversial outsourcing deal. The country is now offering visa-free travel to people from 35 countries and continues to provide visas on arrival for others. These changes are part of Sri Lanka's plan to revive its tourism industry.

The Sri Lankan government announced that the online visa application (e-Visa) system is back on track. The decision comes after it cancelled a highly controversial outsourcing deal with a foreign group. The return of the online visa platform aims to make it easier for tourists to visit the country during its recovery from the economic crisis in 2022. Watch the video here

Why was the e-Visa system halted?

The online visa service was halted due to an expensive outsourcing contract awarded to a foreign group led by VFS Global, an Indian company. The deal, signed in April 2023, was criticised by rights groups for not being transparent. Critics were also concerned that the deal could allow the group to earn billions of dollars over the 16-year contract period.

Under the contract, travellers were required to pay a fee of $25 to process their visas. However, the government scrapped the deal and withdrew its in-house online visa system.

Visa-free entry to boost tourism

To attract more tourists, Sri Lanka is offering visa-free entry for citizens of 35 countries, including India, for six months from October 1, 2024. The government hopes this will attract more international visitors.

Sri Lanka launched a similar programme in 2023, offering free visas for major countries such as India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand. That program expires in March 2024 but was successful, which is why Sri Lanka decided to extend it.

Visa on arrival for other countries

Sri Lanka offers visa on arrival for tourists from countries that are not part of the visa-free program. This makes it easier for all visitors to explore Sri Lanka's beautiful landscape, culture, and history.

With the return of the online visa service and the extension of visa-free entry, Sri Lanka hopes to welcome more tourists and continue its progress, especially in the tourism sector.