Sri Lanka’s Tourism Industry Faces Visa Crisis: Tourists Left Waiting and Uncertain

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is facing significant challenges as a messy visa situation continues to unfold, leaving many travelers frustrated and uncertain about their trips. The country’s controversial partnership with VFS Global for e-visa processing has been suspended by the courts after public complaints over high fees and operational issues. But the replacement system hasn’t been much better, leading to further confusion and delays.

Transport and Highways Minister Bandula Gunawardana shared that the matter was recently discussed in detail at a cabinet meeting. According to him, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has formed a cabinet sub-committee to address the crisis as quickly as possible.

The complications stem from a recent overhaul of the Department of Immigration’s system to align with the now-suspended VFS Global platform. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles noted that this upgrade added new visa categories, making a return to the old Mobitel system much more complicated than expected.

Short-term tourist visas have been hit particularly hard by these changes. Many travelers reported difficulties navigating the VFS Global website, especially when trying to upload passport photos that met the platform’s specific size requirements. These issues were especially frustrating for older tourists, who frequently encountered rejections.

Minister Alles suggested that adjustments could be made to the VFS Global system if the specific problems were clearly communicated. However, as the government works to resolve these issues, a temporary visa-on-arrival program has been introduced to ease the burden.

The visa-on-arrival option allows tourists to obtain their visas at select airports across the country, providing some relief to travelers stuck in the application process. While this measure has been welcomed by many, it’s not without its drawbacks. Longer wait times and potential airport congestion have been noted, with travel experts advising visitors to brace for delays during the process.

For now, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry remains in limbo, as officials race to find a lasting solution to the visa crisis. Travelers are encouraged to stay updated on the situation and plan accordingly, as the government continues to address this critical issue.