GG News Bureau
Colombo, 22nd August. The Sri Lankan government has announced a new visa policy allowing citizens from 35 countries, including India, to enter the island nation without a visa for six months, starting October 1. This decision, made by the Cabinet, aims to boost tourism by simplifying entry procedures.
Harin Fernando, Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism, highlighted that the policy includes major economies such as China, Germany, and Australia, as well as Japan, France, Canada, and several West Asian nations like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.
The move follows controversy over increased fees for on-arrival visas managed by a foreign company. A pilot project introduced in October 2023 offered free visas to travelers from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. This initiative, which ended in March 2024, proved successful and has been expanded to include additional countries.
During the pilot, travelers were granted dual entry status with a 30-day stay limit. India has been a key market for Sri Lankan tourism, with over 28,000 Indian arrivals in October 2023, representing 26 percent of the total. Russian tourists were the second largest group, with over 10,000 arrivals.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry emphasized the importance of the relationship with India, calling it a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy. Sri Lankan MP V Radhakrishnan also stressed that 60 percent of the country’s visitors come from India, underscoring the significance of enhancing tourism cooperation between the two nations.
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