Not only on-arrival visas but online visas too should be stopped

11 May 2024 10:24 am - 39 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama and Indika Sri Aravinda

Colombo, May 11 (Daily Mirror) - Not only the on-arrival visa but the online visa system too should be stopped, as it already affects the number of foreigners who usually arrive in the country, a senior official of the Immigration and Emigration Department said.

The official who refused to reveal his identity told the Daily Mirror that due to the above online system issues, a significant reduction in tourists can be seen when visiting the arrival and departure lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport Katunayake.

"Some foreigners used to visit our country for business purposes, but this has been reduced. The Tourism Ministry has a target of developing the tourism sector of the country, but with the new system it has become only a target.

"The under-hand transactions of this on-arrival and online visa system are completely politicised," he said.

According to the official, not only politicians but country leaders are also involved.

"This system was operated during the past 12 years by the Immigration and Emigration officers for only USD 52 and USD 50 was sent to the Treasury, and USD 2 was charged as the service fee for the system provided by Sri Lanka Telecom," the official said.

He also revealed that the charges collected from the foreigners who arrive in the country are allegedly sent to a bank in Dubai, and after two days, the funds are deposited to the Treasury through a local State bank.

Earlier, these charges were debited to an account under the Deputy State Secretary of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). The charges were debited every day after 2 p.m. with the daily update of the dollar exchange. But under the new system, the charges are debited to the Treasury after two days, he added.

He claimed an information breach of a person's passport information by another party. Therefore, some countries, including China, were opposed to this new system.

It was also mentioned that a foreigner arriving in the country after paying USD 75.5 to VFS Global has to pay another USD 50 to rectify errors in their passport number and date of birth when receiving their visas. Earlier, no fee was charged by the Immigration Department to rectify minor errors. No chance is given to immigration officers to rectify the errors.

VFS Global is a Dubai-based company that originated in India. The staff working for the company is from India, he said.

Therefore, to prevent foreigners being overcharged for their on-arrival and online visas, this system should be handed over to a local company and it should directly debit the charges to the Treasury without making it inconvenient for the foreigners, the official said.

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Priyan66 Saturday, 11 May 2024 10:38 AM

VFS is not a customer friendly company. Those who got visa through VFS know this

Ravana Saturday, 11 May 2024 10:54 AM

Very, very, very, very true

Sam The Man Saturday, 11 May 2024 10:07 PM

Don't foolishly complain about VFS. Our immigration being so politically corrupt has allowed illegal immigrants to become Ministers and even President . Issuing diplomatic passports to politicians and their wives. Its like pot calling the kettle black. In all honesty VFS would have done a better job.

Sameer khamkar Sunday, 12 May 2024 11:52 AM

Sir, I went for a vacation in April 2024... Inspite the Sri Lankan govt has declared India as visa free till May , I was charged 110 USD for a 30 days visa...it's something like fooling us by declaring visa free for Indians..

Sobitha Wednesday, 15 May 2024 05:26 AM

Sameer , There is difference between visa free and visa on arrival. As usual all Lankans are looking for free things. Thats what has landed us in this soup.

Dr Saman Saturday, 11 May 2024 10:50 AM

These companies are used by rich countries to make it difficult for people from poor countries to get visa. In Sri Lanka, they should make it EASY for people to visit the country because we need tourists. Don't ruin everything for commissions

Chryshan Saturday, 11 May 2024 10:53 AM

This system should be scrapped. Are we so incapable in handling even a visa system by our own. Why can't we give free visa so that it will attract tourists and we may get better income. Off course then ministers cannot rob.

Locals are not capable, even Cabinet knows that Sunday, 12 May 2024 10:35 AM

Cabinet carefully considered and realised local people are not capable of doing things efficiently. SLPP, SLFP, UNP all in same mind.

Lionel Saturday, 11 May 2024 11:07 AM

A country without any decency; and corrupt politicians not learning anything. This is unbelievable for a country which is bankrupt and pleading for tourists. What is the IQ level of SL immigration officials and the politicians who did this stupid thing. Why on earth do they charge so much from tourists? Don't these stupid people understand anything? Why would a tourist family of 4 pay US$500 to visit such a pathetic place?. Visa fee is only the start. What about exorbitant entrance fees, filthy toilets, train stations like cattle sheds? An unbelievable place.

wsw Saturday, 11 May 2024 12:37 PM

You hit the nail on the head, everything in Sri Lanka is below par, every nook and cranny is full of opportunists and scammers. The country's lawmakers and relevant sources will encourage excessive fleecing from tourists mercilessly, without worrying about the long term ramifications. Our country is blessed with its natural beauty but is cursed with it's inhabitants who are systematically ruining everything.

RathuP@ AOL.com Sunday, 12 May 2024 08:11 PM

Agree, at the current prices SL will loose the tourist trade income as well. Whatever our SL politicians and dumb imbeciles in tge Government sector touch turns to shit. Look what tgey did to SL cricket for example.

Kick these uneducated scum out Saturday, 11 May 2024 11:11 AM

The brain dead politicians in our country can’t even organise a simple operation like this. Just imagine running a nuclear power plant!! It would be like giving a monkey a machine gun.

Hard Truth Saturday, 11 May 2024 01:49 PM

Exactly. This is such an incompetent system of rule and government organizations. Thanks to the British, at least they developed this country with railroads. If he had been under the British, our life wouldn't have become this miserable.

Mils Saturday, 11 May 2024 11:19 AM

Please stop VFS and don't allow Indians or anyone else to do our visas anymore. Only Sri Lankans are allowed to do our visas, and they must bring back the old way of applying for visas. I also have a lot of problems now. I hope this person, who does not want to say his name, and many others will stand up against this Indian visa scam. Tourists won't come, and I also don't feel like coming anymore. It's all done by these greedy people to destroy Sri Lanka while they get richer.

Public Security minister or his friends and relatives want VFS kickbacks Sunday, 12 May 2024 10:34 AM

The Cabinet is hell bent on getting VFS in, when there is much going out of tourist dollars as commission to VFS. Some of that will make it back into the pockets of Cabinet Ministers and Ranil even who support for VFS.

Scandinavian Turist Saturday, 11 May 2024 11:44 AM

From Scandinavian perspective to allow VFS operate at the airport is just a decision based on corruption. Are you srilankans really allowing authorities and politicians continue to rob you? Turist not coming to SL, they will go to cheaper countries.

Rip Winkle Saturday, 11 May 2024 11:55 AM

On the one hand, the Sri Lankan economy is being rebuilt on the backs of the poor people who have to forego meals and medications in the process while on the other hand absolutely nothing is being done by Ranil to reign in the corrupt acts of the country's thieving politicians. A non sequitur. Makes no sense.

Puncha Saturday, 11 May 2024 12:08 PM

We expect new government after elections to stop this crime

Mohan Saturday, 11 May 2024 01:30 PM

The attitude of the staff behind counter is I am in charge you need a visa from me, do you can dance to my tune. They know that they have a captive client who has no options but to pander to them as they cannot simply go back. Why would the Indians care about the tourists who come to Sri Lanka. Anyone but the selfish Indians.

Jacek Gruszczynski Saturday, 11 May 2024 02:54 PM

Also price to be paid for a tourist visa is way too high. Want to cash in on tourists? Introduce 30 days free entry. Look at Thailand.

Dee Saturday, 11 May 2024 03:04 PM

Yes correct. An automated system will halt many things. Such as bribes. Automation should be stopped altogether. Maybe they can manually take thumbprint using a stamp pad.

Harin's former driver Saturday, 11 May 2024 03:24 PM

Appoint Harin and expect a circus

So what? Will Tiran Alles be asked to pack? Saturday, 11 May 2024 05:09 PM

The former procedure as explained by an official of Immigration

ZarCH Saturday, 11 May 2024 05:53 PM

Immigration costs should be free for all countries. The important thing is to make it visa-free, to entice travellers to bypass similar tropical countries and visit Sri Lanka. It's amusing to see that the authorities are more into earning from visa issuance (50-100 USD) than the money they would be possibly earning by a tourist if they arrive with no barriers.(May be thousands of USD for a family) penny wise, pound foolish

UMAS ALI Saturday, 11 May 2024 06:06 PM

STOP ALL THE VISA ,DO WE WANT TOURISTS OR VISA MONEY?

Smh Saturday, 11 May 2024 06:44 PM

Everything is so difficult in Sri Lanka. There are robust countries in the region that are more welcoming for business and tourists. Why would anyone want to go through a complicated visa process before they even come to a country?

My two cents Saturday, 11 May 2024 08:23 PM

I totally disagree, sorry. First of all, VFS global is not and Indian nor Arabic company. It’s a Swiss company backed by American investors. They are in about 155 countries, to facilitate visa processing. The visas are approved or denied by the respective countries immigration. A good example is banking cards, visa, Mastercard or Amex. These are companies that only facilitate banking transactions since they have a wide network. If not, our local cards would be useless abroad! I have personally had bad experiences with VFS here in SL, but it was run by local SL staff. So let’s not kill the messenger. Having said that, the higher up people are playing, as usual, sadly for such a beautiful country with so much potential.

Navi Saturday, 11 May 2024 09:48 PM

Not brain dead, CORRUPT politicians hand in glove with an Indian connected Company acting as a spy base on in and out tourists.

Hadam Sunday, 12 May 2024 04:42 AM

I had a personal experience with VFS at Edinburgh. Even in Europe they are real shit show. Blood sucking leaches who want drain every penny out in any possible ways they can. These numb nuts politocos have given them entry visa to them. God bless our country.

ranjith gamage Dubai Sunday, 12 May 2024 05:19 AM

VFS no need in our arrival at airport go back to old system. This is a big commission saga?????

Earle Hickey Sunday, 12 May 2024 07:07 AM

When I flew in last week there wasn't even a pen that worded at the bench for filling out immigration forms even though these pens were tied down by twine

Adwani Sunday, 12 May 2024 08:02 AM

Already Ceylon Tea Exports, Coconuts, Spices trading is ruined, so now the Tourism business gets ruined is not a surprise.

Independent Sunday, 12 May 2024 10:18 AM

Other side of the story, could be due to the introduction of the new system, immigration officers income have reduced as their underhand businesses have become a full stop? With a system in place, all the underhand business cannot continue. They take money from businessmen and traficking people to assist them.

Raj Sunday, 12 May 2024 11:59 AM

Check Visa fees to some countries in the region. Maldives offers Free Visa, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia Vietnam offers much cheaper fees.

DD Sunday, 12 May 2024 12:46 PM

This new Visa issuance handing over to a private entity and operated by Indians is not good for Sri Lanka, as what has transpired in media is showing that it looks like a sabatouge to sri Lankan tourism which is the corner stone of our economic recovery. Visa issuance has to be with the Immigration and Emigration purview who also can and be able to check and correct errors and also.act as gate keeper. The privatisation is causing issue for Tourist Business People etc, better to revert back to the Immigration. We want tourist to visit and we charge exorbitant fees which is deterrent to tourism

F.Grero Sunday, 12 May 2024 01:15 PM

When will you filthy politicians

F. Grero Sunday, 12 May 2024 01:28 PM

VFS Global is a Dubai-based company that originated in India. The staff working for the company is from India, he said. Tiran you are a filthy lier. This country is not yours though you think so.

ANNECUNT Sunday, 12 May 2024 01:51 PM

how much does our corrupt politicians make out of this visa system

Bryan Sunday, 12 May 2024 03:26 PM

Who will come to Sri Lanka to stay longer. There should be a system for foreigners to come and visit Sri Lanka . The system we had before is excellent. Immigration scanned the passport and allow the visitor to stay 30 days without fee. This system is effectively done by some tourist friendly countries.

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Not only on-arrival visas but online visas too should be stopped

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