Tourism Industry veterans cautioned that heightened confusion over the new visa system, along with the abrupt increase in visa fees, could derail 2.3 million tourist arrival target set for the year. This could potentially reduce arrivals below 2 million, while service providers stand to gain $50 million in fees.

“We have seen a lot of frustration at the moment, frustration in people trying to get here; we have seen what people have written to us. We may not have cancellations right now, but the problem is that we may not have new bookings for winter,” Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), Vice President Bobby Jordan Hansen told reporters in Colombo.

According to SLAITO’S research, Sri Lanka now has the highest visa fees in the region “This is hard to comprehend, especially when over 25 per cent of the cost is attributed to fees charged by an international issuing company, which does not benefit the tourists or the country. Based on a base of two million tourists, this would amount to a total of 50 million USD in fees, which seems absurd for a simple process that was previously executed extremely efficiently and cost-effectively,” it said.

SLAITO officials along with tourism industry veterans lamented that the visa issue would hamper the growth momentum for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry after a successful winter.

“So what’s going to happen is that even if hotels keep the same prices from last year, the package prices are going to shoot up,” Chairperson of Tangerine Hotels (Pvt) Limited and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau former Director said.

According to SLAITO, the industry was kept in the dark until the new visa system came into operation on April 17.

“When they implemented ETA earlier, SLTDA came with the Department of Emigration and Immigration to brief us, and also a trial period was given. This time, even the Minister didn’t know,” a SLAITO member said

A series of events will be held over a period of three days beginning today (17) in the Northern and Eastern regions as well as Colombo to mark the end of war 15 years ago.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (16) said that nominee to be the next US Ambassador to Colombo Elizabeth K. Horst had revealed that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government announced a ban on foreign research vessels’ entry into Sri Lankan waters on January 1 this year at the behest of the US.

The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar acquitted the four accused including a Major involved in the shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of three individuals and the injury of several others during a protest for clean drinking water in Rathupaswala on August 1, 2013.

Former Army Commander General Mahesh Senanayake who joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today has been appointed the head of the party's Ranaviru Balakaya. Ranawiru Balakaya is a group of ex-military men who support the SJB. He received the appointment from Party Leader Sajith Premadasa this morning.

The Indian Navy has arrested 14 Sri Lankan fishermen along with five boats for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and for fishing sea cucumber on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

Showery and windy conditions arebexpected to enhance during th enext few days from today evening due to pre-monsoonal conditions over the country and surrounding sea areas. Heavy rainfall above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Western,Sabaragamuwa, North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Over 70 international transitional justice and human rights scholars have urged the Sri Lankan Government to halt the establishment of a Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation (CTUR) as it has been rejected by victim groups and the broader national context is not conducive for such a process.

Former Speaker and National Movement for Social Justice Chairperson Karu Jayasuriya voiced his profound regret yesterday over the Police’s handling of the porridge distribution event in Sampur commemorating the victims of the war and enforced disappearances.

General Secretary of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, is scheduled to visit Mullivaikkal, in the Mullaithivu District, where the combined security forces defeated the LTTE.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe will attend the 10th World Water Forum High-Level Meeting in Indonesia, from 18 - 20 May at the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the President's Media Division (PMD) said.

A specialized delegation will leave for Russia on the direction of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to investigate into the welfare of Sri Lankans amidst the on-going Russian-Ukraine war, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya said today.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) national list MP Mayantha Dissanayake has been appointed as the party's District Leader for Nuwara Eliya. Dissanayake, who made this announcement at a media briefing said he has also been appointed as the party organiser for the Nuwara Eliya constituency.

Claiming that relatives and comrades have a right to commemorate the war dead, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said today that the government must take steps to protect their rights.

A new election focused alliance led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva faction and the group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna breakaway Opposition Parliamentarians led by Nimal Lanza is to be launched next month (June) from Hambantota, said Opposition Parliamentarian Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

In response to complaints received regarding questions 09 and 39 of the GCE (O/L) Science Paper 1, the Examinations Commissioner General has announced a decision to award two free marks to all candidates who attempted these questions.

In the wake of the recent mass withdrawal of AstraZeneca vaccines due to concerns over rare blood clots, Sri Lanka health experts emphasized that individuals who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine need not harbour undue fears regarding its safety.

A delegation comprising 15 officials of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court completed a four-day training programme from May 9 to13 at the Supreme Court of India, a statement from the Indian High Commission said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed Prime Minister and Local Government (LG) Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to look into the possibility of invalidating the nominations accepted for the postponed 2023 (last year) LG elections.

Three females and a male were arrested by the Sampur Police on Sunday night for violating a court order by holding a commemoration event in remembrance of the Mullivaikkal war dead. According to sources, the arrested had allegedly distributed porridge to neighbours in memory of their relatives who were killed during the armed conflict.

United States’ Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (13) at the Presidential Secretariat.