Foreigners can extend visas from tomorrow by registering with Department of Immigration website
All foreigners currently in Sri Lanka requiring to extend their visas will need to register with the Department of Immigration, a senior official said. Facilities to register will be made available via the Department’s website from tomorrow.
Those registering will be called for interviews in batches enabling them to pay up the fees and get their visas extended.
Earlier the Government announced that all visas of foreigners stranded in the country are being extended until May 14.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau reported that around 11, 531 foreign guests were in Sri Lanka as of April 30.
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairperson, Kimarli Fernando stated that the embassies of the tourist’s home countries were in contact with the authorities in Sri Lanka for those that wished to be repatriated.
Ms.Fernando pointed out that departure flights were still permitted without much restriction and stated that Sri Lankan Airlines along with a few other airlines were operating to this end.
She reiterated the fact that tourists were in touch with the authorities through the 1912 call center which was functioning along with the tourist registration website – measures put in place to assist and disseminate information to tourists all over Sri Lanka.
The authorities have been actively assisting all of Sri Lanka’s foreign guests who have reached out for help in terms of transport, accommodation and curfew passes. Approximately 13 hotels are open and functioning as lodging for these guests with a majority of them being based in Colombo.
Ms. Fernando stated that it was likely that many guests were also lodged in locations belonging to the informal sector and with family and friends. Several transport companies have also partnered in the assistance of these guests to provide safe and legal transport during the curfew. Tourists are permitted to use their air ticket as a curfew pass for their travel to the airport and for permission to render a vehicle to their service.
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairperson, Kimarli Fernando stated that the embassies of the tourist’s home countries were in contact with the authorities in Sri Lanka for those that wished to be repatriated.