NE NEWS SERVICE
COLOMBO, OCT 24
The Sri Lankan Cabinet has on Tuesday approved the policy to issue free tourist visas to travellers from India and six other countries, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said, amidst efforts to rebuild the debt-trapped island nation’s tourism sector.
The Island nation’s Foreign Minister Sabry in a statement said that this would be carried out as a pilot project effective until March 31, 2024.
Cabinet approves issuing of free visas to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia & Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot project till 31 March –
— M U M Ali Sabry (@alisabrypc) October 24, 2023
The Sri Lankan Cabinet approved free entry to travellers from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand with immediate effect.
Tourists from these countries will be able to obtain visas when visiting Sri Lanka, without a fee. India is traditionally Sri Lanka’s top inbound tourism market.
In the September arrival figures, India topped with over 30,000 arrivals or 26 per cent with Chinese tourists trailing at over 8,000 arrivals as the second largest group.
Tourist arrivals to the island had slumped since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that left 270 persons, including 11 Indians, dead and over 500 injured.
Sri Lanka, which has been grappling with unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948, is also facing political unrest with protesters demanding President Rajapaksa’s resignation.
