Tourists wanting to visit Sri Lanka must now apply for a visa upon arrival due to the temporary suspension of the electronic visa (e-Visa) system.
Nigerians, on the other hand, face an additional hurdle because their visa applications must be submitted directly to the Department of Immigration’s headquarters.
This new approach replaces the former online application option, which was discontinued on August 2, 2024.
The suspension implies that Nigerians will no longer be able to receive visas upon arrival at the airport. Instead, they must submit their applications to a representative at the Department of Immigration’s headquarters.
This change follows an interim order from the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, which invalidated the agreement under which VFS Global and its partners managed the e-Visa system. Consequently, the e-Visa portal (https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/) has been taken offline.
VFS Global announced the suspension, noting that they had “been notified of certain interim orders issued by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today in relation to the agreement under which this platform is operated.”
In light of these instructions, the website will be suspended from August 2 at 17:00 hours Sri Lanka Standard Time.”
VFS Global also announced that candidates who submitted their applications after the suspension will receive reimbursements. “If you applied on August 2 after 17:00 hours Sri Lanka Standard Time and your visa application is still being processed, you will be refunded.
“Please send your application reference number to [email protected],” the business said.
The Supreme Court also ordered the reinstatement of the previously used Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) gateway, which was run by Mobitel, a Sri Lankan telecoms company.
Other nations that cannot acquire a visa upon arrival and must obtain one before to arrival include Afghanistan, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, North Korea, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria.
Background
In April, Sri Lanka replaced its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system with an e-Visa procedure handled by a partnership that included VFS Global, GBS Technology, and IVS Global Services.
On Friday, the Supreme Court issued an interim injunction order that suspended the e-Visa system and invalidated the Cabinet’s decision to subcontract service administration to foreign corporations.
The suspension is intended to address charges of procedural infractions, corruption, and breach of public confidence throughout the contracting process.
The e-Visa suspension will be in effect until the court resolves on the petition. In a circular, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) said that the ETA system is likely to be operational “within the course of next week” and expressed satisfaction with the re-establishment of the simple and user-friendly ETA. SLAITO will keep its members updated on future developments.
Viyani Gunathilaka, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, indicated that consultations with authorities from the Department of Immigration and Emigration are taking place to settle the problem as soon as possible.
