India extends visa on arrival for Sri Lankans

Colombo: India has extended the e-Tourist Visa (eTV) scheme for Sri Lankan citizens in keeping with a pledge made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka last month.

The Indian High Commission said the Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme has come into force with effect from April 14, 2015.

"The eTV can be utilised by all Sri Lankan Nationals holding ordinary passports whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to



meet friends or relatives, short duration medical treatment or casual business visit," a statement said.

Applicants have to apply and obtain ETA online prior to undertaking travel to India.

The eTV will be for single-entry, and valid for only 30 days stay from the date of arrival in India while the entry into India must be through any of the following 9 designated airports only - Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.