Sri Lanka to waive visa fees for 40 more countries

Published : 25 July 2025 02:23 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 39 Bookmark

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Colombo, July 25 (Daily Mirror) - The government has decided to waive visa fees for 40 more countries in a bid to strengthen the country’s tourism sector, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 'Hotel Show Colombo 2025' exhibition held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, the minister said the decision follows a previous move to waive visa fees for tourists from seven countries, including the United Kingdom.

Although the decision is expected to result in an annual revenue loss of approximately USD 66 million, the Minister expressed confidence that the anticipated increase in tourist arrivals and related earnings would more than offset the shortfall.

The event was held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Comments - 39

Comments - Sri Lanka to waive visa fees for 40 more countries

A Friday, 25 July 2025 02:52 PM

But no happiness for Sri Lankans we have to pay for Visa.

0 3

Jeeves Friday, 25 July 2025 02:53 PM

This is so unnecessary! It smacks of desperation, and suggests an open door policy, which it is to anyone fleeing anything, including criminal arrest! If a person cannot afford even a $20 visa, what are they going to spend here?

4 15

Sashi Friday, 25 July 2025 02:56 PM

Think of the money lost! This is a false economy. What type of person selects going to a country just because they don’t need a visa?

3 11

Foolish. Foolish. Foolish! Friday, 25 July 2025 02:59 PM

Why not pay for their airport taxi too? That will attract more tourists for sure! Better still, also their Airbnb!

4 10

Foolish. Foolish. Foolish! Friday, 25 July 2025 02:59 PM

Why not pay for their airport taxi too? That will attract more tourists for sure! Better still, also their Airbnb!

5 6

Foolish. Foolish. Foolish! Friday, 25 July 2025 02:59 PM

Why not pay for their airport taxi too? That will attract more tourists for sure! Better still, also their Airbnb!

4 6

Ravi K Friday, 25 July 2025 03:11 PM

Good decision, you need to adopt the strategies similar to Thailand in order to be more successful

6 6

Nasanal Sek Kurty Friday, 25 July 2025 03:39 PM

Why not just make it visa free for everyone . Or even passport free entry?

5 2

Sha Friday, 25 July 2025 03:50 PM

40 more countries? Why why why? First of all there will be a significant loss for immigration dept. Secondly, how are we gonna manage the influx of tourists ? We still have paan luxury bus running from airport to Colombo.

2 1

Pathmaranjan Friday, 25 July 2025 04:13 PM

Very good move. More tourists will come and bring much needed foreign exchange. Many countries are open for tourists without Visa restrictions where they can stay 30 to 90 days without Visa.

5 6

Truth be told! Saturday, 26 July 2025 02:10 AM

More illegal immigrants will flood in, and immigration department will not have resources to check! 66 million USD would have helped a great deal! Think small; stay small. Time for a cabinet reshuffle!

2 7

Truth be told! Saturday, 26 July 2025 02:10 AM

More illegal immigrants will flood in, and immigration department will not have resources to check! 66 million USD would have helped a great deal! Think small; stay small. Time for a cabinet reshuffle!

2 5

Truth be told! Saturday, 26 July 2025 02:10 AM

More illegal immigrants will flood in, and immigration department will not have resources to check! 66 million USD would have helped a great deal! Think small; stay small. Time for a cabinet reshuffle!

2 6

Truth be told! Saturday, 26 July 2025 02:10 AM

More illegal immigrants will flood in, and immigration department will not have resources to check! 66 million USD would have helped a great deal! Think small; stay small. Time for a cabinet reshuffle!

1 4

Truth be told! Saturday, 26 July 2025 02:10 AM

More illegal immigrants will flood in, and immigration department will not have resources to check! 66 million USD would have helped a great deal! Think small; stay small. Time for a cabinet reshuffle!

1 3

Booru Thadiya Friday, 25 July 2025 04:37 PM

Give us the same right when enter those 40 countries. Fair enough right?

1 3

Fact Check Friday, 25 July 2025 11:21 PM

Not fair at all. They are not so keen to get lost in SL while all here will go that country and get lost. Even with restrictions our people still enter these countries illegally.

1 3

Ahmed Friday, 25 July 2025 04:53 PM

What are the countries ?

0 3

suda Friday, 25 July 2025 05:33 PM

This is way too much. Do we have facts , charge them something $25

1 2

maha Friday, 25 July 2025 05:38 PM

good decision

1 3

Dr Tissa Fernando Friday, 25 July 2025 05:39 PM

How could you recoup loss of USD 66 millions from Tourism revenues. The increase in number of tourists will not reach that amount which directly goes to the Treasury. We pay hefty visa fees while visiting their countries. I am sure the benefit would be USD 1 million against the loss of revenue of USD 66 millions. The fake Doctors in NPP are making incorrect projections.

5 5

Yohan Friday, 25 July 2025 05:42 PM

Good move. Also try to have good washroom, restaurant and parking facilities at every popular tourist destination similar to facilities we see at Welipanna service area. It will help to generate more income and both local and foreign visitors will spen d more time and will spend more. At least start from few destinations initially. No need to have seperate washroom facilities for local and foriegn. Just have the same with better facilities for all.

3 4

Cassie Friday, 25 July 2025 06:06 PM

Name the countries.

0 3

sumo Friday, 25 July 2025 06:30 PM

It is about time the politicians use their brains rather than sitting on it like the previous ones, the Rajapakses, wictrmasinghes, Bandaranayakes et al did during their time. Just stole, did nothing worthwhile for the people.

1 3

RanjithT Friday, 25 July 2025 06:36 PM

Comrade foreign this is how small minds work. Anticipating it will offset US$ 66 million is exactly the problem with the comrades. Thinking very small. Just take a look at what Maldives earn from tourism. With the tourist arrival in 2024 of 2,046,615 they earned US$5.6 billion that is US$ 2,736 per visitor as against 2,053,465 tourists SL earned only US$ 3.168 billion. See the difference US$ 2,736 per pax against US$1,543 by SL. It is not the number that matters quality of tourists. Comrades should think exponential and with the additional visa free access should be looking at least 3 to 4 thousand for pax revenue. What does Maldives has to offer other than pristine beaches. How much we can offer. Comrades think big, aim high, go upscale get out of small mind.

2 6

M Fernando Tuesday, 29 July 2025 03:10 AM

We are too wrapped up in this whole "see what we have to offer compared to X, Y and Z countries"... Clearly we are falling short somewhere or else we'd also have comparable numbers. Visa-Free is not going to make much of a dent in this

0 0

Harsha Friday, 25 July 2025 06:45 PM

When is this minister with three portfolios going to realise that people do not select countries on the basis of not requiring a visa; unless they are escaping something/ someone in a hurry???

1 7

Disappointed Friday, 25 July 2025 06:47 PM

A loss of 66 million USD is too much guaranteed money to lose! Any wonder our road to recovery is slow and flawed?

1 5

Disappointed Friday, 25 July 2025 06:47 PM

A loss of 66 million USD is too much guaranteed money to lose! Any wonder our road to recovery is slow and flawed?

1 7

WOULD BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE TOTAL REVENUE BROUGHT IN, NUMBERS MEAN NOTHING IF REVENUE IS GOING TO BE LOWER!!. Friday, 25 July 2025 06:56 PM

IF ALL THESE COUNTRIES ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER WITHOUT A FEE, WE HOPE THE DEPT OF IMMIGRATION DOES ITS JOB AND MONITORS TO ENSURE THEY LEAVE WHEN THEIR VISAS EXPIRE ANDFOLLOW UP AS WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TOURISTS ENTER COUNTRIES WITH FREE VISA ENTRY, WE WILL DEFINITELY GET THE ILLEGAL OPERATORS SLIP IN AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST AND RUN THEIR OPERATIONS FROM PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION AND OR KEEP MOVING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND LEAVE, WITH A FEW REMAINING AND OPENING UP ONLINE BUSINESSES AND OR OTHER FORMS OF SCAMS, MONEY LAUNDERING ETC. CHASING AFTER THESE SO CALLED TOURISTS WILL COST THE GOVT AN ADDITIONAL SUM ADDED TO THE 66 MILLION REVENUE LOSS AS MENTIONED IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE. LET US SEE WHAT THIS DECISION RESULTS IN!!. WHY CAN'T WE GIVE FREE VISA ENTRY TO SELECTED COUNTRIES THAT WE KNOW BRING IN TOURISTS ECONOMIC REVENUE!! AND CHARGE OTHER COUNTRIES A SMALL ENTRY VISA FEE. IF VISAS ARE ISSUED AT THE AIRPORT, IT HAS TO BE BY A COUNTER OPERATED BY DEPT OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.

1 0

Ranji Mendle Sunday, 27 July 2025 09:20 PM

It is ridiculous to have a visa free system when there are so many people entering the country, to my understanding there are foreigners being able to get dual citizenship and do business in the country especially English tutoring. Why not focus on reducing the dual citizenship fee which is $2000 ( Sri Lankans that are citizens in the USA)the highest fee in the world for being one of the smallest countries in the world . Please consider reducing the fee.

0 2

Lynne UK Citizen Friday, 25 July 2025 07:32 PM

When is this going to be implemented? I have just check today, as we travel in September, and you still need to pay for the Visa from the UK.

2 2

dinesh Friday, 25 July 2025 07:40 PM

this is good !

1 3

RP Friday, 25 July 2025 09:11 PM

Trouble ahead!

1 2

Jude Saturday, 26 July 2025 01:35 PM

Many countries have successfuly done this to boost business and tourist arrivals from specific countries. Special promotion needed to attract top spenders and earn more than that return from visas. Identify tourists interested in other visa free destinations more than one time and launch a program to make them move to this visa free paradise.

2 3

Cheers Saturday, 26 July 2025 03:25 PM

Sri lanka in meltdown with these anura kumara and the jokers

0 11

Sameera Farouk Saturday, 26 July 2025 04:59 PM

The Sri lanka, government is not taking advantage of vital incomes through the visa process. These are rich countries, they can easily afford to pay only euro 50 for the visa. The SL government should save

2 2

Fareena Lai Sunday, 27 July 2025 11:03 AM

Pity, you cannot understand the logic, extra efforts needed to make it a success, creating opportunities, provided the good will and promotion plan....

4 2

Big Sam Sunday, 27 July 2025 12:30 PM

Effective when??

0 2

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