Category Consular

Cyclone Ditwah has left thousands displaced and in urgent need of essentials like food, water, medicine, and shelter. We’re calling on generous supporters to send in-kind donations of priority items listed below.

All donations will be exempted from duties and taxes under the government’s emergency relief clearance process.

In order to avail of the duty-free clearance, the relief consignments should be addressed to the following consignee:

For smooth and expeditious clearance process, please include a List of Items with the quantity and estimated value for Customs purposes

👉 Please refer to this link for full instructions on how to ship your items duty-free.

https://donate.gov.lk/

The Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka for Southern India extends its heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Jeyaranee Gnanasambanthan, Country Manager and the staff of the Bank of Ceylon, Chennai for their generous donation of flood relief items towards the Sri Lanka Flood Relief Fund. Your support during this critical time is deeply appreciated.

All well-wishers and members of the Sri Lanka community;

In the aftermath of the devastating impact of the Ditwah Cyclone on Sri Lanka, thousands of individuals have been displaced and critical infrastructure has suffered unprecedented levels of destruction.
The Government of Sri Lanka hereby appeals to the international community, development partners, and all well-wishers to extend material and financial assistance in support of national recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Financial donations towards Sri Lanka’s Flood Relief Fund may be made through the following methods:

Bank Transfer through NEFT

Beneficiary                  :           Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, Chennai

Bank                             :           Bank of Ceylon, Chennai

Branch                         :          Chennai

Account No                 :           7580004693

Swift Code                   :           BCEYIN5M

IFSC Code                   :            BCEY0CHEN01

3. Cheque drawn in favor of Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, Chennai
4. Cash deposit at the Cash Counter of the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, No. 56, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034

A formal acknowledgement of each financial contribution will be issued by the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka, Chennai.

Those who wish to donate the items mentioned in the attached list are requested to follow the consignment instructions as given below:

Any individual or organization could send relief items to Sri Lanka using any mode of transport. Please be advised that in order to avail of the duty-free clearance, the relief consignments should be addressed to the following consignee:

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Disaster Management Center (DMC), Vidya Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka  

For smooth and expeditious clearance process, please include a List of Items with the quantity and estimated value for Customs purposes and email to DMC prior to departure of shipment from sending country.

Contact details of the Disaster Management Center:  , Mr. Jagath Mahendra – Deputy Director (+94 77 395 7905)  , Email : jagathm@dmc.gov.lk,  DMC will undertake clearance on duty free basis.

Those who wish to hand over the relief items to the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, Chennai may contact the following officers;

Contact            :            Ms. Harsha Ruparathne, Counsellor (+917845930188),   Ms. Preetha Sridharan, Public Relations Officer (+919884492876),  Ms. Y. Vandana, Protocol Officer (+919791192480)

Email Id           :           floodrelief.sldhc@gmail.com

Dr. Ganesanathan Geathiswaran

All well-wishers and members of the Sri Lanka community

Updated list of required items Emergency Unit as of 01.12.2025

Travel Advisory Update 🇱🇰✈️
Sri Lanka has introduced special measures to support tourists affected by the severe weather:
✔️ Full waiver on flight cancellation & date-change fees
✔️ Flexible rebooking options
✔️ Simple self-declaration process at BIA

#SriLanka #TravelAdvisory

Sri Lanka has introduced special support measures for tourists affected by the severe weather.Tourists whose visas expired during this period will receive free visa extensions with no penalties. Airlines have also agreed to waive cancellation and date-change fees, offering flexible rebooking for anyone needing to adjust their travel plans.A simple self-declaration that you were impacted by the weather is enough to qualify. If you are currently visiting Sri Lanka, please stay safe and follow official updates. For assistance, call 1912.

Emergency Unit

https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/vs/login.php

ETA via: https://eta.gov.lk  #SriLanka #TravelUpdate

Important Update on Sri Lanka ETA The earlier announcement making ETA mandatory for all short-stay visitors from all countries from 15 October 2025 has been revoked until further notice. All ETA & visa services continue as before. ✅ Travelers can still obtain ETA via:: https://eta.gov.lk #SriLanka #TravelUpdate

As announced earlier, with effect from 15 October 2025, all those visiting Sri Lanka for
short-stay (tourism and business) purposes are required to obtain the Electronic Travel
Authorization (ETA) through website: eta.gov.lk.

1. As per the reciprocal/bilateral arrangements, passport holders of Seychelles,
Maldives and Singapore shall be exempted from fees.

2. Passport holders of People’s Republic of China, India, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Japan will also receive ETA free of charge as per existing regulations.

3. The stipulated fee will be applicable to passport holder from all countries other than
those listed in Points 1 and 2.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) will take active steps to ensure the
issuance of the ETA in an expeditious manner particularly in view of the oncoming tourist
high season.

Controller General s
Department of Immigration and Emigration

A special consular camp was held at Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai on 15th February, 2022. 83 birth certificates were issued in this camp and applications for 64 citizenship certificates were also accepted from Sri Lankans from Mandapam in Ramanathapuram and Puthupatty, Gopalpatty & Adiyanuthu in Dindigul.

Full Media Release – https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-upgrading-digitalization/

Upon the resumption of Sri Lanka tourism for Indian travellers, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai hosted two outbound tour operator delegations from Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) at Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission on 23^rd and 24^th September 2021 respectively. The objectives of arranging these delegations were to brand Sri Lanka again as the favourite travel destination of Indian tourists after a long break due to the pandemic restrictions and to solicit their views on uplifting Sri Lankan tourism.  Addressing delegations, the Deputy High Commissioner, Dr. Venkateshwaran, made the delegates aware of the way forward for Sri Lankan tourism under the new normal situation and emphasized Sri Lanka’s readiness to promote “Ramayanaya Yathra”, “Murugan Trail” and “Panchalingam Trail” to allure more Indian travellers to the island.

A comprehensive presentation was made by Mr. Nilina Pathirana, Manager, Sales, Sri Lankan Air Lines, Chennai office, highlighting the air connectivity from Colombo to south Indian destinations including Chennai, Bangalore, Trichy, Madurai, Cochin, Trivandrum, and Hyderabad. Furthermore, he emphasized the national carrier’s buy one, get one free offer, which is available to passengers until December 31st, 2021. TAAI delegation head, Mr. Karunakaran, Hon Secretary of TAAI Southern Region, appreciated the initiatives taken by the Deputy High Commission to make travellers aware of the opening up of Sri Lankan tourism to India. Furthermore, he suggested a few factors to be taken into consideration, which include changes to Sri Lankan Airlines’ flight schedules and enhancing sops provided to travellers.  

President of TAFI Southern region, Mr. Arul Lazaran emphasized the importance of Sri Lanka as a travel destination for Indian travel and tour operators, specially elaborated the importance of waving off taxes/levies on MICE tourism and destination wedding travellers. During the Q&A session, numerous questions were raised by the participants regarding the steps to be followed by the travellers upon arrival in Sri Lanka, the ongoing visa procedure, and carrying out PCR tests etc. These questions were successfully addressed by the DHC and the team. Moreover, Sri Lankan Airlines and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau were suggested with a few proposals to be executed which would be more pragmatic to bolster the Sri Lankan tourism industry under the new normal situation. Taking the facts raised by the delegates into his consideration, DHC agreed to convey their suggestions to Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and other line agencies in order to assure and furnish a safe and comfortable travel experience to Indian travellers.

Rounding off each interaction, Mr. Dilanga Hettiarachchi, Third Secretary (commercial), Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, admired the impetus given by both TAAI and TAFI throughout the years and sought their keen support to promote and project Sri Lanka as Indian travellers’ favourite travel destination.

Both TAAI and TAFI are preeminent travel and tour operator associations in India, which have a substantial amount of island wide membership and play a vital role in India`s tourism industry.

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission- Chennai

27^th September 2021

News Paper Article – https://www.ft.lk/…/SL-Deputy-High-Commission…/27-723742

Full Media Release :  https://mfa.gov.lk/regional-consular/

The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai will offer limited Consular Services from 24 March 2020 until further notice taking into account the global circumstances associated with COVID – 19.

Accordingly, for the following emergency Consular services kindly contact the 24/7 hotline:
1. Issuance of Emergency Travel Document for Sri Lankan citizens
2. Issuance of Certifications related to death of Sri Lankan national
3. Any other emergency services considered necessary
4. Urgent inquiries regarding COVID – 19 pandemic

Hot Line: 8939594463 and 9789919905
Email: sldhc.chennai@mfa.gov.lk

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission
Chennai
23.03.2020