The Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath announced that the Government is set to implement a free visa policy for nationals of 39 countries. “A Cabinet paper will be formalized and presented to Parliament as a gazette notification, with the plan expected to be rolled out soon,” he stated.
The initiative, originally approved by the previous administration’s Cabinet on 21 August 2024, aimed to provide free visas from 1 October 2024 for six months, following expert recommendations highlighting its benefits. The policy extends the earlier free visa approval granted in November 2023 to seven countries, including China, India, and Russia, which was later extended until 30 April 2024.
Tourism industry stakeholders have welcomed this move, emphasizing its potential to enhance Sri Lanka’s appeal by simplifying the travel process and encouraging tourists to allocate their budgets toward experiences and local businesses. Minister Herath clarified that the delay in launching the free-visa system was due to required adjustments and the parliamentary dissolution at the time.
The policy aligns with Sri Lanka’s target of attracting 5 million tourists by 2030. Stakeholders noted the previous free-visa trial’s success and believe expanding it to 39 countries could yield even greater benefits.
The 35 countries initially listed in the previous decision include India, China, the UK, Germany, Australia, Russia, the US, Canada, and Japan. Sri Lanka Tourism aims to attract 3 million tourists and generate $5 billion in revenue in 2025.
During the first 19 days of 2025, the country recorded 153,761 tourist arrivals, a 20.2% increase from the same period in 2024. India, Russia, and the UK remain the top source markets.