Immigration Dept. issues notice on visa extension for stranded foreign nationals

The Department of Immigration and Emigration in Sri Lanka has announced that foreign nationals unable to leave the country because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East can receive visa extensions for 14 days. These extensions will start from the expiration date of their current visa and will be granted individually, depending on the verification of each situation. This decision comes after flights to the Middle East were canceled starting February 28. The Immigration Department stated that tourists must show proof of their inability to leave, which can include boarding passes, notices of flight cancellations, or confirmations from airlines. Travelers can apply for the visa extension at the airport immigration office when they are ready to depart.