Sri Lanka has put on hold a plan to issue visas on arrival for Thais and citizens of 38 other countries in the wake of the Easter bombings in Colombo that killed more than 300 people.
Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga said the government has suspended the programme planned to kick off on May 1.
“Although arrangements were in place to issue visa on arrival for citizens of 39 countries we have now decided to hold it for the time being in consideration of the current security situation," the minister was quoted as saying on www.srilanka.travel, the website of Sri Lanka's tourism agency.
"Investigations have revealed foreign links to the attacks and we don’t want this facility to be abused,” he added.
The visa on arrival plan covers 39 countries, including Thailand, according to the Sri Lankan government. It was to have been a trial period for six months ending on Oct 31 to promote tourism during the low season.
About 9,000 Thais visited the South Asian country last year, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority reported.
Kandy, the old capital, is a popular destination for Thai visitors to pay respects to the sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha at the Temple of the Tooth.