The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has issued an interim order suspending the new e-Visa platform, which was implemented in April 2024.
Tourists planning to visit Sri Lanka will now need to apply for a visa on arrival following the temporary suspension of the electronic visa system (e-Visa).
This change, effective from 2 August 2024, requires visitors to navigate a new process, except for Nigerians, who must submit their visa applications directly at the Department of Immigration’s headquarters.
This was disclosed in a statement published on the official government electronic visa issuance portal, www.srilankaevisa.lk, VisaNews on Monday.
The statement stated that VFS Global, the company managing the e-Visa system had “been notified of certain interim orders issued by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today regarding the agreement under which this platform is operated.
“Given these orders, the website is suspended effective 2 August, at 17:00 hours Sri Lanka Standard Time.”
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Friday issued an interim order invalidating the agreement with VFS Global due to allegations of procedural violations, corruption, and breaches of public trust.
VFS Global is the company that managed the e-Visa system.
As a result, the e-Visa portal (https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/) has been taken offline.
VFS Global announced that applicants who submitted their applications after the suspension will receive refunds.
“For applicants whose visa applications are under process, in case you applied on 2 August after 17:00 hours Sri Lanka Standard Time, you will receive a refund. Please share your application reference number with travel.partner@srilankaevisa.lk,” the company stated.
In response to the court’s decision, Sri Lanka plans to reinstate the previously used Electronic Travel Authorisation system operated by Mobitel, a Sri Lankan telecommunications company.
The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators confirmed that the ETA system is expected to be operational “within the week.”
The suspension of the e-Visa system will remain in place until the court rules on the petition.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, Viyani Gunathilaka, confirmed ongoing discussions with officials from the Department of Immigration and Emigration to resolve the situation swiftly.
Countries affected by this change, which must now ensure they have a visa before arrival, include Afghanistan, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, North Korea, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria.
This development follows Sri Lanka’s decision in April to replace its ETA system with an e-Visa process managed by a consortium including VFS Global, GBS Technology, and IVS Global Services.
