The President’s Media Division announced yesterday that the existing $50 fee for a 30-day visa for foreign visitors to Sri Lanka will remain unchanged, with the continuation of the free visa service for citizens of seven countries: India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The responsibility for visa issuance will now solely rest with the Department of Immigration and Emigration. This decision comes amidst significant progress in the country’s tourism industry, with stakeholders in the sector advocating for maintaining the maximum visa fee at $50 to support future tourism development.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed concerns raised by various stakeholders in the tourism sector, who emphasized the importance of keeping visa fees competitive to sustain tourism growth. Following discussions with the Cabinet, the decision to uphold the current visa fee structure and maintain free visas for citizens of selected countries was finalized. This move is expected to contribute positively to the ongoing development of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and promote continued growth in visitor arrivals.