Free visa scheme expected to secure Cabinet approval within 2 weeks

The free visa scheme, proposed for 39 countries, is expected to secure the Cabinet approval within the next two weeks, before being tabled in Parliament for the final approval, according to Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Chaminda Ranasinghe.

Speaking to reporters in Colombo last week, he noted that the Cabinet paper has already been submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.

The initiative is expected to boost tourist arrivals, in particular during the lean or off-peak season.

“We want it to be a kind of a 365-day destination. The reality is that the world doesn’t fully know this yet,” Prof. Ranasinghe said. He noted that the country needs to attract 200,000-250,000 tourists during the lean season (from May to August). In August 2024, the Sri Lankan government announced plans to offer free 30-day tourist visas to citizens of 35 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, Thailand and Indonesia, starting from October 1, 2024, for a six-month period. However, the implementation of this broader visa-free scheme has faced delays, as the legislative process was yet to be completed when the new government came to power in October last year. (NF)