Sri Lanka resumes its free e-visa program on arrival today

Sri Lanka is now resuming its program of issuing free visas on arrival, which was interrupted after the attacks last April.

As of August 1, 2019, the country will issue free 30-day visas upon arrival to nationals of 48 countries in order to revitalize its tourism sector, which has been seriously affected since the attacks of April 21.

The Minister of Tourism, John Amaratunga, said that tourists and business travellers will be able to obtain their visas free of charge when they arrive in the country or online.

It specifies that as from tomorrow, a comprehensive security system will be introduced, similar to the one used by Singapore, and that when a traveller submits an advance application for a free visa, it will be examined and rejected if it does not appear « trustworthy ».

A few days ago, the country’s Cabinet of Ministers re-approved this policy, which had been postponed until further notice a few days after the dramatic events that struck the island state at Easter.