Thursday Feb 19, 2026
Thursday Feb 19, 2026
Thursday, 19 February 2026 02:45 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Tourist arrivals from Sri Lanka’s second largest source market could face short-term disruptions following a temporary technical issue affecting the delivery of Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) approval notices to travellers in the UK.
The Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK announced that the disruption impacts ETA approval notices issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Sri Lanka.
In a notice, the Consular Section of the High Commission in London noted that the issue arose due to unforeseen technical circumstances and is being addressed on priority by the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka.
Travellers who have already applied for an ETA may proceed with their travel to Sri Lanka even if they have not received the ETA approval notice, the statement clarified. Airlines and relevant authorities have been officially informed to facilitate boarding without requiring presentation of the ETA approval notice. ETA verification and necessary facilitation will instead be provided upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The Department of Immigration and Emigration is working to restore normal services at the earliest and has expressed regret for any inconvenience caused.
The development comes at a sensitive time for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, given the strategic importance of the UK market.
The UK remains not only one of the largest source markets by volume, but also one of the highest yielding, with British travellers typically recording longer average stays and higher per capita spending compared to several regional markets. Their arrivals are particularly significant during the winter peak season, supporting occupancy rates and foreign exchange inflows.
During the first 15 days of February alone, Sri Lanka welcomed 17,807 visitors from the UK, bringing the year-to-date total to 47,347 arrivals. In 2025, the UK ranked as Sri Lanka’s second largest source market, contributing 212,277 travellers.
As Sri Lanka seeks to reposition itself as a higher-value, experience-driven destination amid ongoing economic recovery efforts, maintaining seamless travel facilitation for key long-haul markets such as the UK is essential. Any perception of administrative uncertainty, even if temporary, could risk dampening momentum at a time when the country is aiming to boost per capita tourist revenue and strengthen its premium tourism offerings.
