Sri Lanka Reintroduces Eta For Tourists Amid Controversy Over Lgbtq Tourism

Published on October 5, 2025

In a move that has sparked important debate, nan Sri Lankan government has reinstated its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) strategy for tourists, effective from October 15, 2025. This determination comes aft a play of administrative restructuring and ineligible challenges, including nan impermanent suspension of an eVisa level that was launched earlier this year.

The Department of Immigration successful Sri Lanka confirmed nan reinstatement of nan ETA strategy connected October 4, pursuing a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated nan caller eVisa system. The ineligible action stemmed from disputes complete nan platform’s implementation, pinch nan former caput of nan Department of Immigration and Emigration being convicted of contempt of court aft failing to comply pinch nan court’s directive. This led to nan caller system’s suspension and nan return to nan original ETA process, which was utilized for years anterior to nan eVisa experiment.

While nan alteration successful nan migration strategy has received attention, it is nan growing belief opposition to nan government’s tourism policies that has made this business moreover much controversial. Specifically, Sri Lanka’s authorities has been facing beardown backlash complete its efforts to beforehand inclusivity successful nan tourism sector, peculiarly pinch respect to LGBTIQ tourism.

The ETA System: What Travelers Need to Know

The reinstatement of nan ETA system requires each visitors wishing to sojourn Sri Lanka to get support online earlier arrival. The strategy is designed to streamline nan visa process and guarantee information while maintaining power complete nan number of visitors entering nan country.

This move is besides portion of Sri Lanka’s efforts to revive its tourism sector aft nan economical setbacks of caller years, including nan 2020 pandemic and different challenges. However, pinch nan preamble of nan ETA system, nan state is besides navigating a delicate taste divide, peculiarly astir nan rumor of LGBTQI tourism.

Tourists readying to sojourn Sri Lanka must use for their ETA done nan official authorities portal earlier travel. This will assistance them support to participate nan country, and nan strategy intends to simplify nan visa process for travelers while helping authorities way introduction to nan island.

Controversy Around LGBTQ Tourism: Religious and Cultural Backlash

The increasing accent connected LGBTQI tourism has go a focal constituent successful Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, starring to beardown guidance from belief groups. This contention was ignited successful September 2025 erstwhile nan Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority recognized nan efforts of nan Equal Ground NGO successful promoting diverseness wrong nan tourism sector. This nickname included a missive commending nan NGO’s activity up of World Tourism Day successful 2025, which sparked outrage among immoderate belief leaders, peculiarly those from nan Buddhist and Catholic communities.

Buddhist monks and Catholic leaders powerfully opposed nan nickname of nan diverseness programs, labeling them arsenic “unethical” and contrary to nan teachings of their respective faiths. The backlash culminated successful a missive addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging nan authorities to extremity promoting what they referred to arsenic “unacceptable taste practices.”

These objections are rooted successful nan truth that homosexuality remains criminalized successful Sri Lanka, nether Article 365 of nan Penal Code, which deems same-sex behaviour to beryllium a punishable offense. This ineligible stance, mixed pinch increasing belief guidance to LGBTQI-inclusive tourism, has created a profoundly divisive ambiance astir nan country’s attempts to align pinch global tourism trends.

The Impact connected Business and Leisure Travel

The reinstatement of nan ETA system and nan contention surrounding LGBTQI tourism are having a analyzable effect connected some business and leisure travelers to Sri Lanka. For tourists, peculiarly those who place arsenic portion of nan LGBTQI community, Sri Lanka presents a challenging destination, arsenic nan ongoing taste and ineligible guidance to LGBTQI authorities whitethorn deter visits from those seeking inclusive environments. LGBTQI-friendly accommodations and activities successful Sri Lanka could besides beryllium negatively affected by this backlash.

For business travelers, peculiarly those progressive successful world tourism and hospitality industries, nan ongoing cultural tensions whitethorn lead to challenges successful partnerships and investments. With Sri Lanka looking to position itself arsenic an charismatic destination for world tourism, nan polarizing views connected LGBTQI authorities could limit nan entreaty of nan land to definite markets.

Quick Tips for Travelers to Sri Lanka

1. Check ETA Requirements: Ensure you use for nan Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) earlier walking to Sri Lanka. The ETA is mandatory for each travelers.
2. Be Aware of Cultural Sensitivities: Sri Lanka’s stance connected LGBTQI rights whitethorn effect really immoderate visitors acquisition nan country, truthful it’s important to understand section sensitivities.
3. Stay Informed About Travel Policies: Political and ineligible changes tin impact your recreation plans, truthful support an oculus connected charismatic authorities updates for nan latest recreation information.
4. Respect Local Traditions: While walking successful Sri Lanka, beryllium mindful of religious and taste practices, particularly successful areas pinch a beardown beingness of Buddhism and Christianity.
5. Explore Inclusive Travel Options: If you’re an LGBTQI traveler, investigation accommodations and activities that cater specifically to your needs and respect diversity.

Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities for Sri Lanka’s Tourism

As Sri Lanka useful to equilibrium nan promotion of inclusivity successful its tourism assemblage pinch its accepted taste values, nan early of nan country’s tourism scenery remains uncertain. The authorities has group its sights connected making Sri Lanka a global tourism hub, but nan increasing tensions complete LGBTQI rights and nan ETA system could beryllium to beryllium stumbling blocks successful achieving this goal.

However, location are besides opportunities for cultural dialogue and growth wrong nan tourism sector. If nan authorities tin find a measurement to navigate these delicate issues while still promoting an inclusive and welcoming ambiance for each travelers, Sri Lanka has nan imaginable to stay a thriving destination connected nan world tourism map.