Sri Lanka to introduce online visa for visitors in two months

PANAJI: Sri Lanka will be introducing online visas for tourists visiting the island country within next two months on a trial basis, a senior diplomat said here.

Prasad Kariyawasam, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India, said that the online visa would be an alternative to the visa-on-arrival, which has been currently discontinued in the South Asian nation.

Kariyawasam claimed that the online visa would be 'much simpler than visa on arrival' and also it will address all the security concerns of the country.

Those who have access to internet can only get the visa, he said adding that the traveler can himself online apply for it or can ask a travel agent to do so.

"The internet presence of a traveler will address the security concerns arising out of current situation in the region," the diplomat said yesterday.

Also, Sri Lanka will have a trial of this new visa facility before its implementation.

Kariyawasam said that Sri Lanka and India should not wait until everything falls into place.

"When a process is set in motion, packages are put in place, and people start traveling. I am confident that hindrances will gradually diminish," he added.