August 10, Colombo (LNW): The Department of Immigration and Emigration at the airport is currently grappling with significant challenges related to visa checks for incoming passengers, primarily due to the suspension of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system.
A senior department official highlighted that immigration officers in the arrival lounge are struggling to verify the online visas that were previously submitted before the suspension.
This issue has also affected passengers during their boarding process, as many have faced difficulties with visa verification.
In response, the department has shifted to issuing only on-arrival visas. However, the online visa verification system for arriving passengers has yet to return to normal.
It’s important to note that on-arrival visas are not available for nationals from specific countries, including Afghanistan, Syria, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, North Korea, and Myanmar. This restriction adds another layer of complexity to the already strained system.
Further complicating the situation is the fact that many foreign tourists have already paid for their visas through VFS Global, raising concerns about additional charges for on-arrival visas. The department has made it clear that without issuing these visas, they cannot permit passengers to enter the country.
As of now, the department’s official website has posted a notice regarding the suspension of the visa issuance system, effective from August 2 at 17:00 Sri Lanka Standard Time. Passengers whose visa applications were in process or submitted after this time are eligible for a refund and are instructed to share their application reference number with [email protected].
In a related development, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed a fundamental rights violation petition (SC/FR/221/2024) in the Supreme Court on July 30. The petition, filed in the public interest, calls for accountability in the procedural violations and misuse of public trust by officials involved in procuring private entities to handle the ETA system for tourist visas.
The petitioners argue that the lack of transparency and adherence to proper guidelines in the decision-making and procurement processes has significantly impacted the tourism industry, the national economy, and national security.
They contend that the actions and inactions of the respondents have violated the citizens’ fundamental rights to equality and information, as enshrined in Articles 12(1) and 14A of the Constitution.
Among the respondents named in the petition are the Minister of Public Security, the Controller General of Immigration, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, several private companies, and the Attorney General. The petition highlights several key issues, including agreements with private entities that could lead to substantial financial losses and harm to the tourism sector.
A notable incident at the Bandaranaike International Airport in May 2024 brought to light the problematic nature of appointing private entities for visa processing.
The petition emphasizes that the existing partnership with Mobitel (Pvt) Limited, which has been in place since 2012, ran smoothly without major issues. In contrast, the private entities involved in the current arrangement have charged significantly higher fees and have been linked to several operational problems.
The petition calls for the respondents to be held accountable for their illegal, arbitrary, and unreasonable actions or omissions in the procurement process
