SL issues visa on arrival for select countries to overcome technical glitch on ETA

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) yesterday announced that on-arrival Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be issued to tourists from several countries due to the technical glitch experienced by travellers who are applying through the online system. 

“The Immigration and Emigration Department has informed that the tourists from the certain countries, who are unsuccessful in making credit card payments for ETA to travel to Sri Lanka, due to the ongoing upgrade and maintenance of the ETA front end system, will be issued on arrival ETA (at the port of entry to Sri Lanka) as an alternative channel, with a view to promote the tourism industry,” CAA Chairman Upul Dharmadasa said. 

The countries include; Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Hungary, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia, Mauritius, Iceland, Cuba, Singapore, Russia and Ukraine. 

He further said that the respective Missions/Posts accredited or concurrently accredited to the above countries are requested to take urgent action to convey this information to the relevant authorities, travel industry/associations and intended travellers. 

Separately, the CAA also announced that Sri Lankan passport holders “do not require” the COVID-19 insurance coverage to enter the country. However, it is mandatory for all “tourist visa” holders to have the COVID-19 insurance cover of minimum $ 50,000 and it could be purchased online portal.pionline.lk/covidinsurance/ or on arrival.