Immigration Chief says single-chop visa move delayed till 8 October

Department of Immigration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya  

• Acknowledges not having sufficient time to prepare necessary gazette for previously approved Cabinet decision as well
• Assures steps being taken to expedite the process despite Parliament being adjourned
• Industry warns foreign missions are concerned about situation faced by their nationals at BIA
• Says if countries issue travel advisories, it could result in cancellation of over 60% of winter bookings
• Calls on President Ranil Wickremesinghe to use Executive powers to resolve issue swiftly

By Charumini de Silva

The Department of Immi-gration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya yesterday confirmed that the implementation of the single-chop visa for nationals from 38 countries, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers this week will be delayed until at least 8 October.

“The Cabinet decision must be gazetted and get Parliamentary approval. However, since Parliament was adjourned on Wednesday, we cannot proceed until the next sitting on 8 October,” he told the Daily FT last night.

When asked by the Controller General if the Department had gazetted and got Parliament approval for the previous Cabinet decision taken on 21 August to extend free-visas to 35 countries, Ilukpitiya acknowledged that the Department did not have sufficient time to prepare the necessary gazette.

However, he assured that steps are being taken to expedite the process.

“I have prepared a regulation and sent the same to the Parliament to fast-track the implementation. Although the Parliament is adjourned, the Parliamentary officials continue to work. We are trying to bypass a committee too and get it expedited,” he added.

The Controller General also said that following the Cabinet decision on Monday, he was summoned to a committee to explain the legal and procedural challenges involved in implementing the visa changes. 

“I explained the laws, regulations and the capacity within which I can work,” Ilukpitiya said.

Separately, the tourism industry expressed growing frustration over the delays, warning of significant negative impacts on Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.

Industry leaders pointed out that the foreign missions in Sri Lanka are increasingly concerned about the situation faced by their nationals at BIA.

They warned that if countries issue travel advisories, it could result in the cancellation of over 60% of forward bookings, severely affecting tourist arrivals ahead of the winter season.

“This is unacceptable, and the authorities are making it increasingly difficult for tourists to visit Sri Lanka. Cabinet decisions are made one day and reversed the next. This does not happen anywhere else in the world,” they criticised the Government’s lack of clarity and inaction.

The industry urged the President Ranil Wickremesinghe to use his Executive powers to resolve the issue swiftly, as he is also the Tourism and national Policies Minister. “The situation has reached a critical point with foreign missions closely watching the developments. The President must take immediate action to clear this mess,” they said, warning that Sri Lanka’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination is at stake.