Sri Lankan opposition politicians are backing protests by local travel trade players against a new but confusing and pricier visa scheme that is said to be secured through a fraudulent deal.
The new visa scheme was introduced by Sri Lankan authorities in April 2024, with VFS Global signed on to handle visa processing and facilitation. Under the new arrangement, visa fees are hiked up to US$100 per visitor; it was US$50 previously for a 30-day visa, which included a facilitation fee of US$25.
Travel trade players warned that the new scheme would lead to a drop in tourist arrivals. They made their case in a joint petition, pointing to strong arrivals in November 2023 and January 2024 that fell off after mid-April 2024 when Sri Lanka introduced the controversial VFS Global Visa system. April arrivals dipped below 2017 levels and continued to fall ending May and June below 2015 levels.
Industry protests have so far led the authorities to reverse visa fees to US$50, including a facilitation fee of US$10 in May.
However, citizens of seven countries – India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia – who are entitled to free visas, are still required to pay a facilitation fee of US$10 per entry.
On July 26, six tourism organisations including the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) filed action in the Supreme Court pleading that their “fundamental rights” had been violated by the new scheme. They are against the new visa pricing and confusing procedures.
SLAITO president Nishad Wijetunga said the new visa system was complicated and confusing. From having to deal with just 10 to 11 questions previously, visa applicants must now answer around 30 questions. Furthermore, visa applicants who log into the Sri Lanka Immigration Department website are now redirected to the VFS Global website, where they are asked for the country they intend to travel to, which Nishad felt was confusing.
THASL president M Shanthikumar said the website was not user-friendly and added that travellers from India, Sri Lanka’s biggest source market, have raised genuine concerns.
Separately, three politicians from the main parliamentary opposition have also filed suits in the Supreme Court claiming their rights had been infringed on by what they perceived as a corrupt and fraudulent deal.
The authorities have dismissed claims of fraud in the transaction with VFS Global.
The scheme also raised security concerns. A visitor who was issued a visa was also sent via email details of another applicant. Erroneous visa communications is another reason politicians have headed to court, citing security flaws.
