The special counter opened by the Immigration and Emigration Department for the convenience of foreign tourists arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake has now been closed.This special counter was opened on the recommendations of the Tourism Development Committee appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on April 24. However, suspicions have raised whether there is an invisible hand behind the decision to close these counters after a month of being opened.

Those involved in the tourism industry said that due to the closure of these counters without prior notice, which was declared open by the Comptroller General of Immigration and Emigration, the confidence of foreign tourists in the country has also been damaged.They pointed out that they will also face great difficulties when the decisions taken for the promotion of the tourism sector, which is being revitalized after a few years, are being withdrawn.

Therefore, they said that these decisions set a bad precedent and added that action should be taken against those who allow policy decisions taken in relation to the sectors that contribute greatly to the country’s economy to be reversed in this way.