Sri Lanka reverts to old visa system; Maldivians granted 30 days
A total of 90 days of visa will be available at no charge, based on request.
Sri Lanka's new government has abolished the visa system introduced by the previous government and introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) visa system, the Maldivian embassy said.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who took office on Monday, decided to make the change on Thursday. With that, the country returned to the visa system it had been using since 12pm that night.
Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Masood Imaad said the decision would not affect the free on-arrival visas issued to Maldivians.
However:
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The difference is that on-arrival passengers will get 30 days instead of 90 days under the ETA system; If they need more, they can extend the duration of their visa for another 60 days on request
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A total of 90 days of visa will be available at no charge
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On arrival passengers will get 30 days because it is programmed as such in the system; However, further talks will be held with the Sri Lankan government to provide 90 days free visa on arrival.
“After the holidays, we are working [in talks with the Sri Lankan government] to make the on-arrival period 90 days. Previously, the on-arrival period was 30 days under the bilateral agreement You get 30 days. Then if you extend it, you get another 60 days,” he said.
Sri Lanka's visa matters have been handed over to an international company, VFS Global, since April 17 last year. The company has also doubled the fees charged from tourists by including visa processing fees and staff expenses. Therefore, the Sri Lankan tourism industry expressed concern.
Although the VFS system was introduced at the time, Maldives had requested that Maldivians be given 90 days on arrival without any fee.
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court issued an interim order suspending the visa system in August. They include:
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Three opposition members of the Sri Lankan parliament filed a lawsuit accusing the then government of massive fraud in awarding the project to VFS Global, which is run by a consortium of Indian companies
