The minister said on Monday that a new bulletin to implement the change requires parliamentary approval.
Last week, presidential tourism adviser Harin Fernando said the plan would be implemented with immediate effect following a proposal approved by the Cabinet.
Parliament is not scheduled to meet before the presidential election on September 21.
The island’s tourism industry has demanded an immediate end to the long delays experienced by travellers to the country.
In April, a foreign company was contracted to issue visas on arrival. However, this has caused much anger in the tourism industry, which claims that travellers are having to wait for hours before being allowed to enter immigration control at Colombo International Airport.
The tourism industry is demanding a return to the system that existed before April. The Supreme Court had ordered the Immigration Department to suspend private operations and take over the management of the visa service.
However, Alles said the process to return to the old system takes time and the number of counters at the airport has been increased to reduce delays.
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