On-line visa system active

by Manjula FERNANDO

The Immigration and Emigration Department has set up an Electronic Travel Authority to simplify the visa process and facilitate short stay visitors.

Immigration and Emigration Controller General Chulananda Perera said the Authority allows tourists who would like to come to Sri Lanka for a short stay to apply and obtain a visa online.

"This service will be available for travellers from 78 countries including India from which tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka take place at present," he said adding that visitors from Singapore and the Maldives can continue to obtain an on arrival visa as a reciprocal gesture as these two countries offer the same facility to Sri Lankan visitors.

"After obtaining the processing fee, we will refer the application to the migration intelligence unit for profiling and vetting. This is done to verify if the applicant is a frequent or suspicious traveller or if he is from a health risk zone such as a country where there is an outbreak of an epidemic."

Such people will have to face an interview at a Sri Lankan mission in the country where they hold citizenship.

The Controller said this profiling would be made within hours and the visa will be issued within three days under the regular service or within one day at a higher fee. The Department will also operate a 24-hour calling centre to receive inquiries on visa matters. The visa will be sent via e-mail or mobile Short Message Service. The visitor has to submit the visa number and his passport at the Immigration counter at the airport and he will be granted access for a short stay.