Sri Lanka has reintroduced its online visa application system to boost tourism following a Supreme Court ruling that suspended a contentious outsourcing agreement.
The decision to restore the online platform was made to support Sri Lanka’s vital tourism sector, as the country continues its recovery from the 2022 financial crisis. Newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced the move on Thursday, emphasizing its importance in promoting the island as a tourist destination.
Under the new system, tourists can apply for visas online without the $25 fee previously charged by India-based VFS Global. The firm had secured a contract in April from the former government to handle visa processing. However, rights groups challenged the deal in court, questioning its transparency and highlighting that the consortium could have earned up to $2.75 billion over 16 years. In August, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court ordered immigration authorities to revert to the earlier visa system.
In a statement on Thursday, President Dissanayake’s office acknowledged the difficulties travelers faced under the VFS Global arrangement, citing numerous complaints about the visa process. Additionally, on Wednesday, immigration chief Harsha Ilukpitiya was arrested for failing to comply with the court’s ruling.
