Electronic Travel Authorisation system in effect from today

Monday, 2 January 2012 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From today, visitors to Sri Lanka including transit passengers will have to apply for travel authorisation online prior to their travel to the country, the Immigration and Emigration Department of Sri Lanka announces.

Except for visitors from Singapore and Maldives, the two countries that reciprocate the facility with Sri Lanka, the new system will scrap the previously implemented ‘on arrival visa’ at the ports of entry.

The Electronic Travel Authorisation has been introduced to grant prior approval for visa via online for foreign nationals from 78 countries.

Controller of the Immigration and Emigration W.A.C Perera says accordingly, foreign nationals visiting the country on purposes of tourism affairs, medical treatments, sports, cultural shows, business conferences and discussions, training programs and seminars can apply for the Electronic Travel Authorisation via www.eta.gov.lk established in the Department of Immigration and Emigration.