The Chinese no longer need to know English to apply for Lankan tourist visas

14 August 2020 08:11 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 31 Bookmark

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Chinese nationals are no longer required to know English to apply for Sri Lankan tourist visas as a result of a newly signed agreement between the Sri Lankan Immigration Department and China travel specialist Travelzen International Travel Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.

As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed yesterday at the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the Chinese are allowed to apply for visas in their mother tongue which is Mandarin.

The MoU signatories were the Controller General of Department of Immigration & Emigration Sarath Rupasiri and the President of the South-East Asian branch of the Travelzen International Kamal Ratwatte and its CEO Sudesh Colonne.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has been using the Electronic Travel Authorisation System for pre-screening and granting of approval for foreign visitors to visit Sri Lanka since 2012.

However, a considerable number of Chinese nationals are reportedly facing issues in applying for Sri Lankan tourist visas as the Electronic Travel Authorisation System is presently functioning only in the English language. (Piyumi Fonseka)

Comments - 31

Sokrates Friday, 14 August 2020 08:49 AM

But it should be a must for Chinese who are working in Sri Lanka to speak English.

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Jay Patel Friday, 14 August 2020 08:54 AM

It has begun take over if Silly Lanka..

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BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 14 August 2020 09:04 AM

China demands this from all China Satellite countries. We will also have to ensure Immigration and Customs Officers are conversant in Chinese.

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Ranmal Hettiarachci Friday, 14 August 2020 09:09 AM

Very good. Guys do not complain. Chinese worked hard faced a lot of hardships to come to this stage. They have money which we don't have as we don't work hard. We just have 50% of our population as politicians. So we need money to feed them. We need money to give them houses , luxury cars , servants , assistants, houses, and commissions for whatever they do. So we have to accept demands of Chinese as long as we need their money. That is the reality my friends regardless of who come to power.

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Sunil Friday, 14 August 2020 09:10 AM

Doesn’t even matter till they start letting tourists in and opening the airport...

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Warren Raed Friday, 14 August 2020 09:35 AM

Politicians are bending the law to their own whims and fancies to please the Chinese government because of the heavy debt. GR’s government is no different than everyone else before him.

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saman Friday, 14 August 2020 09:51 AM

Sri Lankns now speak Chinese!

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Uncle Sam Friday, 14 August 2020 10:00 AM

Rajapaksas will ensure, soon all Sri Lankan will need to learn Mandarin! Good luck ! Xi Xi Nei!

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Saranga Walimuni Friday, 14 August 2020 10:09 AM

Long overdue

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LankanDude Friday, 14 August 2020 10:18 AM

Very soon they will not need Visas #AneyMandha

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L de Silva Friday, 14 August 2020 10:18 AM

High time people stop complaining and whining like cry babies and learn to speak Mandarin! After all, given they are the world's largest population in the world and an ancient civilization spreading over millenia, why not!??

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Eichmann Bernhard Friday, 14 August 2020 10:18 AM

The Chinese

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Shehan Friday, 14 August 2020 10:26 AM

Time to come, Sri Lanka is a another South Asian nation going to celebrate Gong Xi Fa Chai with national holiday in calander.

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Siva Friday, 14 August 2020 10:28 AM

We are a small country .Tourism is a main source of income. Its nice to comfort tourist visitors in their own language.

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Lumbini Friday, 14 August 2020 10:43 AM

Why only China? Why not for all other countries?

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Dr.Siri Friday, 14 August 2020 10:44 AM

Chinese language could be made an additional official language as it's their presence is needed for the next 99 years

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Esther Cohen Friday, 14 August 2020 11:50 AM

Yes because tourists from democratic countries like Europeans will not visit a military dictatorship like Sri Lanka anymore

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GHarry Friday, 14 August 2020 01:23 PM

Hope, Sri Lankan, will definitely have an opportunity to learn Chinese language so rapidly which help boost our economy too.

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june macapagal Friday, 14 August 2020 01:40 PM

Very soon all will have to learn Chinese as a link language instead of English because they are going to come into the country in a big way

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SL in Qatar Friday, 14 August 2020 01:56 PM

So much for English being the universal language....

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Chinese Friday, 14 August 2020 02:06 PM

Very soon Sri Lankans mother tongue will be Chinese.

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jude des ilav Friday, 14 August 2020 02:13 PM

last 15 years only chines started pouring in tour country. Most of them working in leisure industry like massage parlor. Either they speak English or Latin non of our Lankan clients are interested.

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Nadeeka hettige Friday, 14 August 2020 03:19 PM

Bloody Chinese don't need anything. They should not be allowed into the country, they might be carrying the virus, that's where the virus originated in the first place. What are these decisions? Sri Lanka is racist to Sri lankans :))) Sri Lankans can't even come to their own country, keeping the air port closed. Such a sad situation.

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Siri Herath Friday, 14 August 2020 03:31 PM

Chinese can bend and twist rules to their whim as they have the upper hand on countries who are in debt to them. SL should NOT have meekly given in. Imagine if we ask Chinese to accept visa applications to China in Sinhala.

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Norbert Silva Friday, 14 August 2020 03:32 PM

Very soon. Chinese don't need passport to come to Sri Lanka. Immigration officials have to study Chinese to get increments. Chinese is compulsory subject for GCE O'L . In temples monks will preach in Chinese. Don't whine you wanted this !

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Baudhaloka Friday, 14 August 2020 05:03 PM

Similar facilitating policies have already been introduced by many popular tourist destinations including Thailand, New Zealand, Australia etc to Chinese tourists, which successfully attracted millions of visitors as a result. If some one really want to show their so-called Independence, why not forbid English and only apply Sinhala and Tamil on the Visa application system?

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FF Friday, 14 August 2020 08:40 PM

NO ENGLISH OK. THEY KNOW SINHALA

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Ramesh Kanth Saturday, 15 August 2020 03:44 AM

Even for Sri Lankans they don't need to learn Sinhala or maybe Tamil. Now everyone has to learn Chinese language because they rule us with their money. Money is mightier than anything in the world. .

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Selvin Saturday, 15 August 2020 06:20 AM

Very soon srilanlan national anthem in Chinese language???

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Thor Saturday, 15 August 2020 07:13 AM

Chin chua sun!!!

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jayt Saturday, 15 August 2020 09:42 AM

You accepted the truth. Normally most Sinhalese do not accept that they live in false pride.. Everybody is jumping to become a MP because it is free money. All you need talk some BS in the house, but they are not realized Sri lanka one day go on the hand of Tamil, Muslim, Chinese or Indian. It geos on the hand of Indian and Tamil is more likely I read the latest news

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