The online issuance of visa is not possible after the Supreme Court issued an injunction against the process, said controller of immigration and emigration Harsha Illukpitiya.
Lankadeepa.lk quoted him as saying that he would discuss the matter with subject minister Tiran Alles.
Failure to issue visa online could be harmful to the economy and the country’s image, said Illukpitiya.
According to department sources, only the 30-day on arrival visa and six-month tourist visa are issued at the airport since yesterday (02).
Seventeen other categories, including two to five year visa and resident visa, have to be suspended as per the court ruling, said the sources.
The court order suspends the cabinet decision granting the approval in relation to online and expatriate visa operations.
It was pursuant to several fundamental rights petitions alleging procedural violations and abuse of public trust by officials in the procurement of private entities to handle the electronic travel authorization system for issuing visas.
