Sri Lanka drops bar on visas

Aug 29, 2010 |

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Colombo, Aug. 28: Sri Lanka on Saturday suspended plans to scrap on-arrival visas for most nationals, including visitors from the US, Europe, Australia and Japan.

The government had announced it was withdrawing the landing endorsements from September 30 in a move widely seen as potentially damaging to the island’s tourism industry, which is recovering from 37 years of ethnic conflict.

“Notice is hereby given that the earlier public notice on ‘Withdrawal of on-arrival visa facility’ be treated as withdrawn until further notice,” immigration controller, Mr W.A.C. Perera, said in a statement posted on his website.

There was no further comment from the government.

Mr Perera had said those visiting Sri Lanka would be expected to obtain a visa from a Sri Lankan mission abroad.

However, visitors from Singapore and the Maldives, which grant Sri Lankan passport holders visa on arrival, will be exempted.

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