Sri Lankan passport slips to 97th in Global Ranking

17 September 2025 03:43 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 19 Bookmark

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Colombo, Sep 17 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka’s passport has dropped one place to 97th in the Henley Passport Index 2025 Global Ranking, released on September 11.

According to the index, Sri Lanka now shares the 97th spot with Iran, offering its holders visa-free access to 41 destinations. The country ranked 96th in 2024.

The Henley Passport Index, regarded as the world’s most authoritative passport ranking, assesses 199 passports against 227 destinations based on the number of countries accessible without a prior visa.

Comments - 19

Lk Wednesday, 17 September 2025 04:06 PM

Do not worry it will come down soon under 60 if we do some hard work at home : when countries are doing well in their economies they get strong PP Don’t worry about this too much now : it has been like this for some time and politics ruined our PP soon it I’ll be one of the best PP in the world : we all have to work for that free the country from the corruption and fraud first to get strong PP

24 71

Gerry (England) Thursday, 18 September 2025 06:06 AM

Interestingly, the first in the list is Singapore. Where would they have been if Lee Kwan Yu used Sri Lanka as the example for them to follow? By the way, a major issue other countries consider is not how rich or prosperous another country is, but how many people try to enter other countries illegally/claim refugee status/overstay etc.

0 7

Sach Friday, 19 September 2025 08:54 PM

Singapore is far away from India, epicentre of Tamil Nazism. So SG and SL cannot be compared.

2 0

Fact Wednesday, 17 September 2025 04:19 PM

Let’s hope our new government focuses on improving this by signing visa-free agreements with more countries, similar to the UAE, which was ranked above 40 just a few years ago but now stands among the top 10 its a significant achievement compared to all other nations

12 60

Dr Tissa Fernando Thursday, 18 September 2025 08:56 AM

Countries are reluctant to provide visa-free status due to illegal migration. In order to stop illegal migration, the economy needs to improve. For the economy to improve, corruption needs to be eliminated, and development needs to occur. It is a mammoth task considering the country has been spiraling downwards since Independence. However, we are now on the right track now.

5 11

M Fernando Wednesday, 17 September 2025 06:31 PM

Still in the Top 100 however !

14 19

Ginuka Nethmina liyanage Wednesday, 17 September 2025 08:22 PM

It is a good news!!

26 4

Karu Wednesday, 17 September 2025 08:32 PM

It's OK I, let others to visit us.

19 9

Lord Carington Wednesday, 17 September 2025 08:37 PM

Even it slips to 199, we are not surprised. That is based on the status of economy, security, education and financial outlook of the country.

10 36

Commoner Wednesday, 17 September 2025 10:45 PM

Lordship, the article says they assess 199 passports against 227 destinations based on the number of countries accessible without a prior visa. Nothing to do with status of economy, security, education and financial outlook of the country.

1 5

Matt Chris Wednesday, 17 September 2025 10:34 PM

Great achievement.

0 2

Chang Ching Son Thursday, 18 September 2025 12:23 AM

Singapore is number one in the index, yet its story drips with irony. Back in 1965, Lee Kuan Yew the father of Singapour, himself admitted they had modeled their future on Ceylon and said meritocracy has been traded for a thinly veiled racial agenda, the supposed “shining nation” is now on track to churn out generations of glorified domestic workers. What sort of world-class passport can you expect from a country that treats its majority as disposable labor? The current president of Singapour is of Jaffna descent … So Who is the winner ?

1 6

Dilakshan Senevirathne Thursday, 18 September 2025 04:17 AM

Visionary leadership of brother Anura will result in the ranking within top 25 in the next 4 years.

6 5

FredSnR Thursday, 18 September 2025 04:38 AM

Don't worry about global rankings for passports. Instead concentrate on the people living here, their welfare.Have a plan to development your rankings will improve in every field when there is progress

1 4

Ram P Thursday, 18 September 2025 04:58 AM

Only 118 positions in the list as many countries share the positions. So though we are below 100 there are over 150 countries inside that 100. We are closer to the bottom end and our ranking is no good

0 1

Priyan66 Thursday, 18 September 2025 05:04 AM

Passport ranking is a KPI (Key Performance Index) of minister of foreign affairs and it's officials . We expect NPP government to improve the ranking and people are watching it

0 4

Hemantha Bakmiwewa Thursday, 18 September 2025 07:28 AM

No all of that is incorrect. it all depends on the genuinely honesty of the people of srilanka. when they get a visa and go only if they return back those countries will respect Srilankans. They are not getting lost in any country. before 1985 I travelled to UK many times visa on arrival basis. after that many srilankans did harm to others and for the country by illeagally traveling by air and by boats and all good countries put visa restrictions instead of visa on arrival but crooked politician's got visas for them and for their children who never cared or thought of the other people. so be honest when you travel, show you are honest to get back and then European or Schengen or any country will reciprocate.

0 4

Overtaken Thursday, 18 September 2025 07:34 AM

I don't see any reason for the rating to slip. Infact I strongly believe it must have climbed a place or two, after the change in government in SL. So, for me it looks like some other countries have climbed more than SL in the process overtaking SL, giving an illusion that SL has slipped.

3 4

Appuhamy Saturday, 27 September 2025 10:57 AM

These international organisations, when they see a country in Asia, Africa which had difficult times recovering and progressing try to buckle the wheels of progress. These are the ways they try. But do not worry, by 2027 the passport will rise to be above 50th rank.

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