The Sri Lankan cabinet has approved a policy to issue free tourist visas to travellers from India and six other countries, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said on Tuesday.
The minister said that the pilot project that has begun with immediate effect will continue till March 31, 2024.
The move is expected to aid Sri Lanka’s efforts to rebuild the tourism sector to pay off the huge accumulated debt. The Sri Lanka cabinet has approved the proposal to grant with immediate effect free visas to travellers from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand. Notably, no European country is included on the list, and neither is the US.
Taking to X, Minister Sabry said, "Cabinet approves issuing of free visas to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia & Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot project till 31 March."
According to reports, last week, the Ministry of Tourism announced that a Cabinet Paper had been presented during the previous Cabinet meeting, proposing the issue of free tourist visas to foreigners from five countries who intend to visit Sri Lanka as tourists.