The ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka’s business visa issuance is jeopardizing the nation’s economic recovery, as foreign buyers, suppliers, and technical experts struggle to obtain the necessary visas to enter the country, according to a statement from the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). The Department of Immigration has failed to re-activate the online visa system
The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) has called on the Sri Lankan government to urgently address the challenges surrounding the issuance of short-term business visas, which have been suspended since August 2, 2024. JAAF highlighted that foreign business visitors—including buyers, machinery suppliers, and technical service providers—are encountering significant obstacles when attempting to enter Sri Lanka
In response to the suspension of the eVisa platform, Sri Lankan missions abroad will resume issuing tourist and business visas to facilitate international visitors. This measure aims to prevent inconvenience for travelers seeking to enter Sri Lanka while the electronic system is offline. Tourism industry stakeholders have communicated to overseas travel agents and other relevant