The launch of a free-visa system for nationals from 35 countries, originally scheduled for October 1, has been postponed, as announced by Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Vijitha Herath. The delay is attributed to the necessity of obtaining Parliamentary approval, which is complicated by the current dismissal of Parliament.
During the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing, Herath explained that the implementation of the free-visa system involves adjustments to visa fees, which also require parliamentary consent. Discussions are ongoing with the Attorney General’s Department to identify a solution that may bypass immediate Parliamentary approval.
Herath assured that if an agreement can be reached allowing the activation of the system with the understanding that Parliament will approve it upon reconvening, they are prepared to proceed through a special Cabinet session.
The free-visa initiative, intended to last for six months, received approval from the previous administration’s Cabinet on August 21, following recommendations from an Expert Committee that assessed the potential benefits of offering free tourist visas. The countries included in this initiative are India, China, the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, France, the US, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, Belarus, Iran, Sweden, South Korea, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and New Zealand.