Is a Sri Lanka ETA the same as a tourist visa?

For people taking a short holiday, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) serves the same legal purpose as a regular visitor visa.

In the past, you often needed a paper sticker in your passport. That sticker was issued through an embassy. Today, the ETA is connected online to the passport number you use. When you reach the border, officers scan your passport. The database then checks your permission to enter for tourism right away.