Increase in tourists arriving in the country Operate additional counters at BIA, MRIA for speedy visa issuance: Minister

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

The Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry has ordered the officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) to operate additional counters for the speedy issuance of visas in view of the increase in the number of tourists arriving in the country. 

He said that the ministry had reported that Russian tourists had to wait at the MRIA for more than four hours to obtain visas upon entering Sri Lanka.    Later, the minister instructed the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. to immediately deploy additional staff to open additional visa counters to assist immigration and emigration officers working in the airports.  

He said several new air lines, including Bulgarian and Israeli air lines, have expressed consent to commence passenger flight operations to Sri Lanka.   

During the discussion, the Minister instructed the Ministry Secretaries and the Tourism Ministry to take immediate steps to obtain necessary approvals and to prepare the relevant Cabinet Paper for submission to the Cabinet for approval. 

• Several new air lines, including Bulgarian and Israeli air lines, have  expressed consent to commence passenger flight operations to  Sri Lanka