Sri Lankan government on Sunday said it will continue with the Visa-on-Arrival policy despite its decision to implement the new online-visa system for visitors.
Deputy Economic Development minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that both the Visa-on-Arrival and proposed online system will operate until the new system is fully operational and depending on the feedback from visitors.
"We have decided to continue with the on arrival system while having the online system. This would not cause any hardships to the tourists who want to visit Sri Lanka," Abeywardene said.
"The on arrival system would not be abolished. We will scrap it only depending on the success of the online system," the minister said.
The online system, which would soon be introduced, would be scrutinized over a period of time to make evaluation in order to make further reviews if required, he said.
Last year, the government said only the passport holders from Maldives and Singapore would be given on arrival visas which would be a reciprocation as the two nations are the only ones to provide Sri Lankans with on arrival visas.
Sri Lanka issues on arrival 30 days visas to bona fide tourists to the island. The authorities say the system was subject to abuse by individuals who have found employment having entered the island as a tourist.
{{/usCountry}}Sri Lanka issues on arrival 30 days visas to bona fide tourists to the island. The authorities say the system was subject to abuse by individuals who have found employment having entered the island as a tourist.
{{/usCountry}}The implementation of the online system is yet to get underway despite a cabinet decision last month.