Sri Lanka experiences temporary disruption in ETA approval notices

Travelers who have applied for an ETA can still travel to Sri Lanka and will be assisted upon arrival

Sri Lanka is experiencing a temporary disruption in the delivery of ETA approval notices due to a technical issue. However, travelers who have already applied for an Electronic Travel Authorization can still proceed with their journey and will be assisted upon arrival.

Sri Lankan embassies in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam issued official statements on February 17, 2026, confirming the disruption and outlining measures to assist affected travelers.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in the UK stated that "this disruption is due to unforeseen technical circumstances and is being addressed on priority by the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka."

What this means for travelers

Passengers who have already applied and paid for an ETA can still travel to Sri Lanka, even if they have not received a formal approval notice. Airlines have been officially instructed to facilitate boarding for affected passengers.

Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo, authorities will verify ETA applications and provide any necessary assistance.

Entry to Sri Lanka has not been suspended

The disruption affects only the transmission of approval notices, not the ETA system itself. Entry into Sri Lanka remains open, and the process has been temporarily adjusted to avoid penalizing travelers while the technical issue is resolved.