Visa on arrival soon

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The ‘Visa on Arrival policy’ would be implemented from January 1, 2012.

R.M.S. Sarath Kumara, Controller Visa, Emigration and Immigration Department said that visitors could either register online before visiting Sri Lanka or obtain the visa from designated entry points in Sri Lanka.

He said that visitors from SAARC countries have to pay US $ 10 and others will have to pay US $ 20. “However, if a visitor was to obtain a visa on arrival he or she has to pay an additional charge of US $ 5 in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Payments could be made in US dollars or with a credit card.

Kumara said that Business Visas would be more simplified. “The Visa policy was introduced in a bid to bring discipline to arrivals,” he added.

The website for registration is www.eta.gov.lk

The ‘visa on arrival policy’ will have a positive impact on tourism and will help to increase tourist arrivals.

Economic Development Minister, Basil Rajapaksa said citizens of some countries need ‘exit visas’ and the Sri Lankan ‘Visa’ policy will enable them to obtain a visa from home and ‘leave the country’.

He explained that in addition residents of some countries are not granted visas on arrival to Sri Lanka and this will help woo them to Sri Lanka as well.