Voyage to Colombo

SRI LANKA (eTN) – I arrived yesterday in Sri Lanka after a pleasant flight on the national carrier, a short three-hour hop from Bangkok.

SRI LANKA (eTN) – I arrived yesterday in Sri Lanka after a pleasant flight on the national carrier, a short three-hour hop from Bangkok.

As an eTN Ambassador I was very aware of my publisher’s difficulties on his arrival a few days ago at the visa-on-arrival counter. I was taking no chances and had arranged with my two travel companions, heading for the 42nd Skal Asia Congress in Negombo, to apply for visas online.

This was quite effortless and was completed and confirmation received all within 30 minutes from start to finish. We were told by the airline it would be US$25 but it was actually US$30 per person via online credit card payment for a 10-day stay.

When we arrived we were armed with all the confirmation ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) numbers and receipts (screen shots on our iPhones – saving paper and ink), but these were not asked for, and we sailed through immigration, and our passports were stamped with a 30-day visitor’s visa.

As we made our way for a pre-conference stay at the Galle Face hotel in Colombo, I was grateful to see all the bright Buddhist flags for the Vesak holiday and for a hassle-free arrival – a special occasion indeed!

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...