Do I need proof of an onward or return ticket to enter Sri Lanka and apply for an ETA?

ETA officers may request a passport copy and return-ticket proof after the application has been submitted. If asked, provide the requested documents and wait for the application decision.

For a flight from India to Sri Lanka, the airline requested proof of a return booking before boarding and would not check the passenger in without it. Have a confirmed reservation or paid ticket ready before going to the airport.

On an itinerary via Almaty and Sharjah, no one checked the return tickets when flying to Sri Lanka. This shows checks can be inconsistent, but an airline on another route may still require onward-travel proof.