Nationals from the Maldives and Singapore are exempt from the scheme as a reciprocal gesture

The government on Friday launched a new website for foreign travellers to obtain online travel authorisation .

“For short visit to Sri Lanka, you need to obtain an ETA with effect from 1st of October 2011,” the newly launched website said.

The ETA enables foreign travellers to obtain prior approval before arriving in Sri Lanka, the official website of the Defence Ministry said.

Only in English

Controller General of the Department of Immigration and Emigration CB Chulananda Perera has told a gathering at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo that the objective of this newly introduced system is to provide efficient and hassle free service to travellers.

For short visit to Sri Lanka, you need to obtain an ETA with effect from 1st of October 2011   New website

The new system will terminate the present on arrival visa at the ports of entry and there will be an administrative fee to obtain visa through the new system, the government's official website said.

“Foreign nationals from 78 countries visiting Sri Lanka on purposes of tourism affairs, medical treatments, sports, cultural shows, business conferences and discussions, training programmes and seminars can apply for the ETA via the dedicated official website of the Department for the purpose,” it said.

Granting visas on arrival at the airport free of charge to the nationals from the Maldives and Singapore is still in effective as a reciprocal gesture, it added.

Applications should be forwarded only in English language and the old system will be effective as before for the air and ship crew who are exempted from obtaining prior approval for the visa.