The Ministry of Public Security has confirmed that Sri Lanka will continue operating its on-arrival visa system for tourists, as no alternative has been established following a recent Supreme Court interim order.
This announcement follows the Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate the Council of Ministers’ move to overhaul the existing online visa service, which was facilitated by foreign companies. Minister Tiran Alas emphasized the lack of a substitute system in light of the court’s directive.
The Supreme Court’s order mandates that visa services must adhere to the pre-existing framework until a new system is introduced. This interim order suspends the Cabinet’s decision to transfer e-visa services to foreign companies and will remain in effect until a final verdict is reached.
The petitions, filed by Members of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka, Rauf Hakeem, and M.A. Sumanthiran, highlight the potential risks to national security posed by the e-visa system. They argue that the system could expose sensitive national security information, and have requested the court to cancel it.
The case is scheduled to be heard on October 4th.
