Expert committee to study free tourist visa programme

Pathmaranjan Sunday, 05 May 2024 10:03 PM

Right direction.

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Muhammad sarooj Sunday, 05 May 2024 10:29 PM

You don't have to have diverse sectors of people to make it free.don't you remember what happened to the rulers of so called diverse sectors of advisers.if the tourism ministry wants to increase the influx of foreign tourists considering the current economic turmoil in the country without comparing other countries in order to recover as quickly as possible.

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Joshua Sunday, 05 May 2024 11:05 PM

Another set of jokers appointed by a joker. By one month all would be lost. RW and his rogues of SLPP playing hell

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Concerned tourist Sunday, 05 May 2024 11:12 PM

1 month is too long. Harm is already done, very swift action is the only way forward.

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Ravee Sunday, 05 May 2024 11:54 PM

Why on earth are the different ministries not in sync when issuance of visas for foreign visitors is a national issue? Isn’t it stupid to contract with a foreign entity for issuing visas, then decide on policy about free entry for tourists. Should it not be the other way around….. decide on entry policy and develop entry procedures accordingly. Doesn’t this scream out “corruption”? And these esteemed Ministers take us citizens as fools.

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Lanka Monday, 06 May 2024 12:36 AM

Our civil servants are not updated with new immigration systems around the world ..Now president is talking about new system of issuing residency to all sri Lankan lives abroad.. This must have been done sometime ago ...more 1m Lankans live in Europe alone ... How much investment these people may have put in our country if this was done sometime ago ...Bangladesh; Indian and Pakistan immigration officials are far ahead of us on this matter . We are slow in reforming our civil service system. Don't blame our politicians for that our civil servants are dump and they don't make new policies and they don't update their knowledge.. Go to some sri lanka high commission to see these outdated public service. Forms are outed Systems are outdated Service is very poor Who should be Blamed for this

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Sam Monday, 06 May 2024 01:29 AM

Can we please have a committee to go to the toilet as well, what rubbish is this so called educated People behaviour is like the non educated Rajapaksa. Aiyo siri.

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Yahapala Monday, 06 May 2024 02:35 AM

One month is so long time. Come on with a quick response to reduce the amount as it was before but not USD 100,-. Because this is the peak season for the tourist Get back the same fee as before. After that take the new solutions.

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Tourist Monday, 06 May 2024 03:05 AM

When can these Grade 5 Educated fools ever going to understand that VISA fees is only one part of the problem. 'The Elephant In The Room' is the way Hotel Prices are structured (very expensive) compared to our neighbours. Exception can be Singapore and Maldives. These two countries have a reason to do so. While Sri Lanka's reason is simply Government Greed! This can KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG.

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Sorban Monday, 06 May 2024 03:43 AM

Too late. We "foreigners" now know how we are regarded in Sri Lanka. We are cash cows to be milked, scammed, conned and screwed. To hell with you and your little island. There are better places to go. Countries that treat tourists as honored guests rather than cash machines.

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Cugan Monday, 06 May 2024 04:19 AM

Why committee study etc make it $30 a month for everyone regardless,

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R Navaratnam Monday, 06 May 2024 04:21 AM

So called Sri Lankans, who know everything, are now to study international models to fix the mess!! Hmmmmmmm Those who made the earlier decision must resign because taxpayers money has been wasted.

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Gunadasa Monday, 06 May 2024 05:18 AM

Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore giving free visas to many nationalities and more than 20 million tourists visiting these countries. Sri Lanka charging high visa fees and getting only 2 million a year. There's nothing to study about these facts

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Haramanis Monday, 06 May 2024 05:40 AM

If we need to boost up tourism, it should be free tourist visa. It is a no brainer.

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Sam Monday, 06 May 2024 06:48 AM

Harin the so called minister what a buffoon, simple just go for the volume .

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Ravi Wickramaratna Monday, 06 May 2024 07:56 AM

The earlier system worked pretty well. It was user friendly and responded within a short period of time. Then people wont line up at the airport to get their visa. It was cheap for the tourist as well. So if the system is not broken why try to fix it. When the authorities in question lack common sense and practical prudence this the end result.

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Pullma Dingalinga Monday, 06 May 2024 07:57 AM

Oh yippee ! Another committee. The visas are an important source of forex. Most people would pay a token USD 20/25 for a 3 month visa. This is a reasonable period as most tourists only want to exceed their monthly visa by a few weeks. It is not rocket science. People want affordability and convenience. And above all a seamless procedure.

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Sambo Monday, 06 May 2024 08:02 AM

Every decision taken by the government so far is to discourage tourism and not to improve it. Some one is trying to earn a fast buck behind the scene and this people will sell this country to India sooner or later.

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Abdul Majeed Mohammed Zacky Monday, 06 May 2024 09:18 AM

Our president has clear vision with practical ideas, it will lead the country to the right path.

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Why rock the boat? Monday, 06 May 2024 09:35 AM

Why rock the boat? Lanka had a steady flow of tourists and steady revenue with $50 for one month visa. Have you become suddenly rich you want to issue free visa? Restore the old system, and forget the latest puzzle! Some people will not be happy, but the tourist will be happy.

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Bandu Monday, 06 May 2024 09:40 AM

Good idea and scrap the VFS contract. Implement free tourist visas and let Immigration Dept just stamp entries into Data system.

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Rip Winkle Monday, 06 May 2024 10:17 AM

Expert committee? Sri Lanka government is filled with experts, and that's why we are where we presently are. Experts, my foot.

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jude Monday, 06 May 2024 11:41 AM

No need to hand over free visas. Just make the fee reasonable. $50 for 30 days $100 fir 90 is reasonable. That's what the foreigners look for. They pay couple hundred if not thousand for air air ticket to come here. They are not going to be turned off by a $50 visa.

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ANNE THOMAS Monday, 06 May 2024 01:29 PM

free tourist visa is a MUST to develop the country find out where the collected money goes to whose pockets. TIRAN OR MAHINDA, BASIL or NAMAL

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DJ Monday, 06 May 2024 02:47 PM

What expert committee. Give free visa on arrival. Tourist will stop coming for sure. This visa fee is going into someone's pockets

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WIPE THEM OUT PEOPLE OR LIVE TO REGRET A REPEAT OF THE LAST MISTAKE MADE AND PREPARE FOR YEARS OF FURTHER SUFFERING Monday, 06 May 2024 04:33 PM

WE THE PEOPLE AND TOURISTS THINKING OF VISITING THE COUNTRY ARE LOST FOR WORDS AS TO WHY THE PREVIOUS VISA SYSTEM WAS WITHDRAWN AND 2 FOREIGN COMPANIES WERE SELECTED!!! NO EXPLANATION!!! NOW SHIT HAS HIT THE FAN AND RANIL HAS WOKEN UP!!! WITH ANOTHER DUMB RESPONSE "A COMMITTEE", THIS GOVT IS STARK RAVING NUTS (TO SAY THE LEAST) SETTING UP COMMITTEES LIKETHERE'S NO TOMORROW!! AND ONE MONTH TO MAKE A DECISION OF A PROCEDURE THAT WAS WORKING WELL!! WITH NO REASON VALID OR OTHERWISE AS TO REASON FOR THIS VISA PROCEDURE CHANGE!!!

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Yahabandu Palangatta Monday, 06 May 2024 05:15 PM

Where we can find Expert committees? May be at Apaya lead by the Satan JRJ!!

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melville perera Monday, 06 May 2024 10:28 PM

bright idea and we'll be having a surplus of vagrant budget type tourists and also beneficial to those with dual citizenship visas

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Sambo Tuesday, 07 May 2024 08:20 AM

What the hell is going on this country. One is deciding on scraping visa fee while another has increased the existing visa fee.

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