Cabinet’s majority supports extension of free visa scheme

Tourism Minister Harin Fernando revealed that the majority of Cabinet members support the Cabinet paper extending a free visa scheme for 60 countries.

According to him, a Cabinet paper was put forward to extend the current pilot project which grants visa-free entrance to visitors from seven countries to 60 countries.
“About 90 percent of the Cabinet is of the view that we need this scheme,” he said.

In October 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal to offer visa-free entry for nationals from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand as a pilot project till 31st of March this year. It was further extended until the 30th of April.
However, even with a free visa scheme, tourists will be subjected to a US$ 18.5 service fee charged by the operator.
Fernando noted that Sri Lanka cannot do away with visa altogether due to security reasons.

(NF)