Bangladesh demands explanation from Sri Lanka over visa-on-arrival.

[Tshering22]

Did these Bangladeshis apply for the electronic travel authorisation necessary?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Sri_Lanka

Woah! Pakistanis require a visa to SL?

I though they were on ETA or visa-on-arrival scheme.

 

[Nilgiri]

Woah! Pakistanis require a visa to SL?

I though they were on ETA or visa-on-arrival scheme.

Very few countries give VOA/ETA/Visafree to Pakistani passports, not even their higher than mountains, deeper than seas friend:

The Visa application for Pakistan nationals is also quite segregated in "tier" from other countries. I know this for a fact for Singapore...Pakistan is in a classification with Afghanistan and a couple other "countries".

For VOA, not exactly sure why Nepal continues to do so with Pakistan even after IC 814...esp given we have open borders with Nepal. Something ought to be done about that.

 

[Anubis]

BD shouldn't have gone for this tit for tat reaction...they should have waited for an explanation....there's no point in punishing Sri Lankans working in BD for a government level problem.

 

[Gibbs]

BD shouldn't have gone for this tit for tat reaction...they should have waited for an explanation....there's no point in punishing Sri Lankans working in BD for a government level problem.

They're on Business or working visa category anyway, So the VOA matter doesn't affect them.. The problem here would be for tourist/pleasure travelers

A ETA is required to travel to Sri lanka anyway i just wonder if Bangladeshi's were exempt from that before because as far as i know only Singaporeans and Maldivians do not require any travel authorization

Woah! Pakistanis require a visa to SL?

I though they were on ETA or visa-on-arrival scheme.

Unfortunately SL has become a transit hub for narcotics and people smuggling networks given it's geo position, Some elements have abused ETA/VOA with regards to traveling from Pakistan i think that was the reason for it's cancellation

Narco trafficking happens through India as well but mainly through the sea route given it's proximity to South India, But the routes from Pakistan are mainly from flights

 

[Acknowledge]

Unfortunately SL has become a transit hub for narcotics and people smuggling networks given it's geo position, Some elements have abused ETA/VOA with regards to traveling from Pakistan i think that was the reason for it's cancellation

Allegations of State support to terror networks operated by Pakistani nationals using Sri Lankan visa-on-arrival scheme was the probable cause as reported by Sri Lankan papers a while back.

There is a reason why not even a single half decent running country offers Visa-on Arrival to Paistan.

I believe there are rumbles in Nepal about removing VoA for Pakistan as well.

 

[Tshering22]

Unfortunately SL has become a transit hub for narcotics and people smuggling networks given it's geo position, Some elements have abused ETA/VOA with regards to traveling from Pakistan i think that was the reason for it's cancellation

Narco trafficking happens through India as well but mainly through the sea route given it's proximity to South India, But the routes from Pakistan are mainly from flights

It is understandable. Drugs in my part of India is also a problem, not in my state but other parts of NE through Myanmar. It is slowly emerging as another Indo-Pak border case.

Tightening control against narcotics is important.

Although most countries mistake cannabis (weed) as a narcotic.That's a natural substance.

In fact, your visa-on-arrival policy is too liberal. Though you don't have enemies, smugglers don't need any enemies to do their nefarious activities.

Allegations of State support to terror networks operated by Pakistani nationals using Sri Lankan visa-on-arrival scheme was the probable cause as reported by Sri Lankan papers a while back.

There is a reason why almost not even a half decent country offers Visa-on Arrival to Paistan.

I believe there are rumbles in Nepal about removing VoA for Pakistan as well.

They should.

It will save us a lot of trouble.

A lot of such people slip into India (specifically the radical loving UP state) through open borders.

Nepal should review its decision. Maybe we can incentivise them with something to reconsider this position.

Very few countries give VOA/ETA/Visafree to Pakistani passports, not even their higher than mountains, deeper than seas friend:

The Visa application for Pakistan nationals is also quite segregated in "tier" from other countries. I know this for a fact for Singapore...Pakistan is in a classification with Afghanistan and a couple other "countries".

For VOA, not exactly sure why Nepal continues to do so with Pakistan even after IC 814...esp given we have open borders with Nepal. Something ought to be done about that.

But the English speaking countries put all of us together. UK says "them South Asians".

Not that I have a problem with that as identity (because we call it the Indian sub-continent), but when it comes to being named as a group for wrong activities, the Indian tag also gets a bad name.

MEA should take aggressive stance to actually spread the distinction between us and these guys. It will make our travel easier.

 

[Gibbs]

In fact, your visa-on-arrival policy is too liberal. Though you don't have enemies, smugglers don't need any enemies to do their nefarious activities.

Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination, Plus they're economy is recovering from a 30 year debilitating war so tourism being one major factor in that economy needs to have a liberal Visa process, Atm only Singapore and Maldives passport holders do not need any kind of authorization to travel to the island, Rest need either a ETA(Electronic Travel Authorization) or apply for a visa on arrival at a port, So there are checks for a certain extent, People blacklisted would not be granted Visa

 

[Tshering22]

Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination, Plus they're economy is recovering from a 30 year debilitating war so tourism being one major factor in that economy needs to have a liberal Visa process, Atm only Singapore and Maldives passport holders do not need any kind of authorization to travel to the island, Rest need either a ETA(Electronic Travel Authorization) or apply for a visa on arrival at a port, So there are checks for a certain extent, People blacklisted would not be granted Visa

You do know that Maldives is rapidly radicalising, don't you?

Also its easy come-and-go policies means that people could use that as a base to launch attacks both in your country and ours.

Tourism is big in your country and is growing in ours. But security is more important.

If one major mishap happens, say bye-bye to tourism.

See how European tourism industry is reeling blows after blows after Paris and Germany attacks.

Give visa on arrival but to places that don't pose a threat.

 

[HeinzG]

You do know that Maldives is rapidly radicalising, don't you?

Also its easy come-and-go policies means that people could use that as a base to launch attacks both in your country and ours.

Tourism is big in your country and is growing in ours. But security is more important.

If one major mishap happens, say bye-bye to tourism.

See how European tourism industry is reeling blows after blows after Paris and Germany attacks.

Give visa on arrival but to places that don't pose a threat.

Maldives and Sri Lanka has strong socio-political bond despite being two countries. There are many Maldivians living in Sri Lanka for pursuing higher education, medical treatments or such. Islamic radicals are not a new phenomenon to Sri Lanka as the Eastern part of the island is now engulfed with radical Muslim youths. Still SLG needs to keep it's eye open on the growing threats in the region.

 

[Gibbs]

You do know that Maldives is rapidly radicalising, don't you?

So called radicalization in the Maldives is more of a political movement than religious extremism, And their political conflicts stays within their borders, Except when opponents seek asylum in Colombo

Maldives have always been a very conservative Sunni Muslim country, So it's difficult to radicalized in religious terms when you're already one of the most fundamentalist Islamic countries out there

But the thing is thats where it ends in the islands there are thousands of Maldivians living and studying in Sri Lanka, For most of them it's their 2nd home even the language Divehi is very similar to Sinhalese, There have been no threat whatsoever thus far and does not appear to be in the near future from the Maldivians, You could say they're like some of the Gulf counterparts, Oh so pious Muslims at home but once out side anything goes booze, weed, party drugs and sex.. Almost all Maldivians do their high school studying in Sri Lanka, So it's not a new phenomenon for the Lankan authorities,