The Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) Controller General, Harsha Ilukpitiya, announced yesterday that the department is awaiting guidance from the Attorney General (AG) to resolve the ongoing visa issuance crisis following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
“This matter is now under legal consideration, and we have sought the AG’s advice to address the issues in the visa issuance process,” Ilukpitiya informed the Daily FT.
The root of the problem lies in the termination of the previous Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which was replaced by a newly introduced e-visa system under a gazette approved by Parliament. Ilukpitiya expressed optimism that a solution could be found by the end of the week. “We hope to receive a positive response from the AG by Friday (23),” he added.
On August 2, the Supreme Court ordered a return to the previous ETA system and suspended the service and convenience fees associated with the new e-visa process. The Court’s ruling came after multiple stakeholders challenged the new visa process, arguing that it was unlawful, lacked transparency, and was not subjected to competitive bidding.
The implementation of the new visa system, managed by global companies GBS Technology Services, IVS Global – FZCO, and VFS Global, faced heavy criticism from various stakeholders, including Parliament. Despite the Government’s justification that the new system, offering 17 different types of visas, had undergone thorough assessment before Cabinet approval on September 11, 2023, the change resulted in increased visa fees, inconvenience, and widespread dissatisfaction among travelers and the tourism industry.
Ilukpitiya acknowledged the complexity of resolving the issue, noting that it would not be easy to revert to the previous system, which had been discontinued to make way for the new one. The e-visa system was introduced even though SLT-Mobitel, the solutions provider for the DIE since 2012, was prepared to implement improvements following a Cabinet decision in July 2021.
The previous ETA system had been widely praised by tourists for its simplicity and ease of use, contributing to Sri Lanka’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination. The ongoing controversy over the new visa system has caused significant confusion and disruption within the tourism sector—a critical component of Sri Lanka’s economy, particularly as the country works to recover from several challenging years and an economic crisis.
Given the importance of ensuring that the upcoming peak tourist season is not disrupted by delays in activating the ETA system, the Tourism Advisory Committee and leading tourism associations, including the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), have strongly opposed the actions of the DIE. They have urgently appealed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe to intervene and expedite the reinstatement of the ETA system, warning that failure to resolve the situation could have devastating consequences for both the tourism industry and the broader economy.