Sri Lanka on Tuesday approved visa-free entry for visitors coming from seven countries including India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand as a pilot project for five months until March 31, 2024, Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. He said that the Cabinet has approved visa-free entry to visitors from these countries with immediate effect.
According to Sri Lanka news website DailyNews, the ministry had earlier said that it was expected to get approval in the upcoming cabinet meeting and that accordingly, it was proposed that tourists from China, Russia, India, Thailand and Indonesia be entitled for free visa.
Cabinet approved visa free to India , China , Russia , Malaysia , Japan , Indonesia and Thailand as a pilot project till 31 March with immediate effect. #visitsrilanka #srilankayoucomebackformore
— Harin Fernando (@fernandoharin) October 23, 2023
Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs also shared a post on the micro-blogging platform and 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 -“.
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
In a statement, the Tourism Ministry added that the motive of exempting tourists from many countries from visas is to “attract more tourists to Sri Lanka. Accordingly, it is expected to increase tourist arrivals to five million over the coming years,”. The ministry further said Sri Lanka was also within the 20 countries that China has announced for travel by Chinese tourists.
The statement added the proposed programme will save money and time spent on obtaining visas and is expected that the number of foreign tourists visiting the country will increase. According to the ministry, an e-ticketing system will be introduced for most of the tourist sites in Sri Lanka for the convenience of the tourists.
