Sri Lanka cuts off visas on arrival for travelers from Myanmar

Sri Lanka has suspended issuing visas on arrival for Myanmar travelers to stop "Bengali" people from Rakhine State entering the country.

Currently, they stopped issuing visas on arrival to prevent the entry of Muslims from Rakhine State who identify themselves as Rohingyas. The Myanmar government denies the term and refers to them as "Bengalis", illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

“We are still allowed to issue (visas on arrival) to diplomats, monks, and nuns, but for tourists, we have stopped giving arrival visas,” she said.

They stopped issuing visas on arrival to Myanmar people after people protested in front of the embassy of Myanmar in Sri Lanka. She said, “We don’t know how long does it take to issue visa on arrival because we are worried Bengali people from Rakhine will enter the country."

Read more: Check Sri Lanka visa for Burmese citizens.