How to get a Sri Lanka visa from Kenya

• The Sri Lanka tourist visa is issued to foreigners with the intention of visiting Sri Lanka for leisure and tourism.
• Tourists who are visiting for a short time (less than 30 days) can obtain the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) instead of a visa, but this option is not available to Kenyans yet.
• The Sri Lanka tourist visa can be extended. Depending on the traveler's specific conditions, an extension of up to two months can be granted by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
• In most cases, you only get one chance at extending your visa. Further extensions will only be considered under very cogent reasons.
• Visa applicants are required to prove they have a convincing incentive of returning to Kenya once their stay is over. A good example of this incentive is an original copy of the applicant's marriage certificate, if applicable.
  
• Foreigners in Sri Lanka should ensure they obey the rules of their visa to avoid getting into trouble with the authorities.
• It’s Sri Lankan law that you must carry an official form of identification at all times. For foreign nationals, the acceptable form of identification is your passport. If you do not have it with you and you’re stopped by the authorities, you may be detained.
• The mistreatment of Buddhist images and artifacts is a serious offence in Sri Lanka. Tourists will be convicted once caught.
• Don’t take photographs of military bases, government buildings or vehicles used by VIPs (this includes numerous sites in central Colombo). Doing this could cause you to be detained.
• You can be fined if you ignore instructions not to smoke or drink in certain public areas. Get enough information about licensed spots you can drink and smoke while in the country.

• Tourists are advised to be vaccinated for yellow fever and cholera before traveling to Sri Lanka.

• Eligible applicants of the business visa are businessmen and women traveling to Sri Lanka for business.
• Here are a list of activities the holder of a business visa can engage in while in the country:
• Attend business meetings and negotiations.
• Attend conferences, workshops and seminars.
• Participate in short-term training programs.
• Participate in art, music and dance events.
• If the purpose of your visit is to attend a conference in Sri Lanka, you are required to provide proof of registration for this conference during your application.
• After arrival to Sri Lanka, business visa holders who may wish to stay longer than three months may apply for an extension.
• An extension of up to 1 year can be granted, depending on the applicant's specific needs and conditions.
• A letter from the applicant’s employer confirming awareness and allowance of business leave is required. The letter should state the job position of the applicant and also state the duration and the purpose of the applicant’s visit.
• An official letter of invitation from the host company in Sri Lanka written on the company’s letterhead is required. The letter should state the job position of the applicant and also the duration and the purpose of the visit.
• The business letter must state whether the applicant’s employer or the host company in Sri Lanka will take up the responsibility of the applicant’s finances.
• If the applicant has previously been in business with the company he/she will be meeting in Sri Lanka, proof of this required.
• Minors are expected to be in possession of an unabridged original copy of their birth certificate, as well as a letter of consent signed by both their parents.
• International certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required.

• This visa is issued to foreigners with the intention of transiting through Sri Lanka to their destination country.
• Foreigners can board a flight from an airport in Sri Lanka to their destination country.
• Kenyans who have the intention of joining a crew ship in the country to their destination country are also eligible for this visa.
• Visa and other entry permits of the destination country are required.
• Flight ticket of the destination country should be provided.
• The Sri Lanka transit visa is a single-entry visa valid for just 48 hours.
• Thirty-day transit visitor visas are possible but usually expensive. It could cost between US$25 to US$100 to obtain one, depending on the traveler's nationality.

If you are heading to the west and south coast and hill country, December to March is the best time to visit Sri Lanka. If you plan on seeing the east coast, you will get the best weather from April/May to September.

Sri Lanka is famous for a wide array of shopping gems -- the most recognized one is sapphire.