Sri Lanka has put on hold the program facilitating on arrival visa to 39 countries due to the security situation following the deadly bombings on Sunday, April 21.
Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism, Lands and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga, said on Thursday that due to the Easter Sunday terror attacks that shook Sri Lanka the program that was to be launched on 1 May 2019 has been postponed..
“Although arrangements were in place to issue visa on arrival for citizens of 39 countries we have now decided to hold it for the time being in consideration of the current security situation. Investigations have revealed foreign links to the attacks and we don’t want this facility to be abused,” noted Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga.
Under the planned visa facilitation pilot program, which Sri Lanka announced last month, nationals of 39 countries were supposed to receive visas upon their arrival to Sri Lanka during the low tourist season, starting May 1.
The visa on arrival pilot program was part of a larger initiative to increase tourist arrivals to the country during the six month off-season period from May to October.
