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Malaysia relaxes Lankan visa

25 May 2010 12:30 am - 20     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Malaysia will once again offer transit travelers from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh a chance to visit the country without the need for a visa.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Government, had decided to reinstate from July 1 the “transit without visa” offer to travellers from the four countries after considering the advantage it would offer in terms of attracting more tourists from the region.

He added Malaysia previously offered a similar privilege to travellers from the Indian sub-continent but it was later revoked. “The Home Ministry has suggested some methods that will avoid abuse of the facility.

“We will discuss them with our local airline companies as we will need their cooperation for the offer to work,” he told a press conference after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Tourism.

He said the details of how the offer would work and conditions would be announced soon. It is understood that Malaysia is targeting an additional 8,000 to 10,000 visitors this year through the move that will only be offered to travellers with tickets for connecting flights.

Muhyiddin said the committee also agreed yesterday to the Tourism Ministry's proposal to increase accessibility to the country and had asked local airlines like Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and AirAsia-X to seek more landing rights abroad.

He added the committee had asked for promotions to attract tourists from the Middle East during the fasting month of Ramadan.

The committee also endorsed the proposal to add parks and gardens in Malaysia to the list of tourism sites and asked the ministry to work with the Housing and Local Govern-ment Ministry to look into upgrading them.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen later told reporters that parks and gardens were not listed as tourist attractions even though there were many travellers who loved visiting such places. (The Star)


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  Comments - 20

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  • Tuesday, 25 May 2010 05:31 AM

    People smugglers in Sri Lanka will now start their business.

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 10:50 AM

    That is because our fellow SLs used that facility to illegally migrate to that country. Our people never use a facility for GOOD use...

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 08:36 AM

    I wonder if they'd change the tourist visa on arrival for Sri Lankans??? That would be just fab, considering Air Asia packages....

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 08:29 AM

    So the only reason he did not escape because he did not have a visa?

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 08:13 AM

    Whom to blame?

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 07:12 AM

    Sri Lanka is already issuing visa on arrival to many countries. So its no big deal for Malaysia to do so. Now that KP is in SL - better be careful, he might escape again to Malaysia.

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 07:05 AM

    Great news!

    India should follow suit and our President should take this matter up during his forthcoming visit to India.

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 06:29 AM

    i rang the malaysian high com in colombo and was informed that i need to show us$ five hundred per person for our transit of four hours on a connecting flight from cmb to sin via kl on air asia when the ticket was just half that amount per person and then my banker wanted me to produce that information which was available only verbally in order to qualify for xchange control permission n obtain forgn xchange.
    well.............now we are planning to stay in kl and travel to sin later on and trust that ppl will be sensible in this age of transportation especially when v are opening up more n more airports and sea ports
    congrats to all and also to airasia
    25.5.2010-11.56

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 06:24 AM

    mohamed, you are correct- for instance we have to obtain visa to India.at their embassy-but when they come here visa on arrival- this is reducales- even India should give visa on arrival to sri lankans-like Singapore

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 05:55 AM

    Welcome to Malaysia!

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 01:51 AM

    Air Asia where are you?

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 05:28 AM

    What big about this for SL tourist to malaysia ? its only transit visa not reqd ! meaning your destination is not Malaysia ..

    Our government should encourage at least saarc countries to issue visa for sri lankan on arrival. Minister of foreign affairs over to you please.

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 05:28 AM

    This is a relief for many frequent travellers. I hope BKK, HK, Manila & Jakarta follow the same. We could fly to many parts of the world with visa on arrival basis'' before the war. Our foriegn Ministry should work on it now. We allow Indians to visit SL, why not Inida do the same to Srilankans.

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 05:07 AM

    Hope the Sri Lankan's do not misuse it.Even UK issued visa on arrival to Sri Lankan's.Hope other countries i ASEAN will do the same.

    Sarath Dassanaike

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 04:54 AM

    This is GREAT news for someone like me, who frequently use South East Asian countries for transit/connecting flights.
    Ever since HK cancelled visa on transit, only option I had for a free visit was Singapore.
    Now at least I have a choice ! Hopefully HK & Thailand will relax their visa rules too.

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 04:46 AM

    There was a time when Malaysia was offering Viisas to Sri Lankan Tourists upon arrival at the Airport. Why cannot they re-introduce this system of "Visa on arrival" at the airport?

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 04:10 AM

    WHAT CAN COUNTRIES DO TO INCREASE TOURIST ARRIVAL. FOLLLOW THEM. SINGGAPORE ALSO

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 04:09 AM

    It will only take few rogues to mess this up!

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 03:29 AM

    A good move in their point of view, hope no one abuses and spoils the chances of the genuine visitors

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010 02:42 AM

    Please don't abuse this oppotunity!


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