Indian tourists will soon have to apply online to get their Sri Lankan visas and not get it on arrival as they currently do.
Sri Lanka has in-principle decided to withdraw the visa-on-arrival facility except for countries which reciprocates. Maldives and Singapore are the only two countries where Lankans get visas on arrival.
While Indians — and tourists from 78 other countries — arriving in Sri Lanka are extended the facility, Lankans have to apply for an Indian visa at the High Commission of India in Colombo.
Government sources said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was keen to withdraw the visa-on-arrival facility because of lack of reciprocity from countries including Lanka’s SAARC neighbours. At the same time, he was interested in introducing the online application option to tourists.