Sri Lanka has decided to suspend on arrival visa to people from four countries in West Africa in response to the Ebola Virus epidemic.

Accordingly, on-arrival visa facilities have been temporarily suspended to citizens of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

The External Affairs Ministry has taken this decision following a request made by the Ministry of health.

Nationals of the four countries can obtain visas only after applying through the relevant Sri Lankan diplomatic missions. They will be required to furnish a medical certificate in order to obtain visas as well.

Many countries have been taking precautionary measures in response to the Ebola epidemic that has already claimed more than 1300 lives in the four West African countries.

Sri Lanka earlier took steps to bring back 200 of its nationals employed in Liberia due to the Ebola risk.