After a disappointing June, tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka surged in July, with the country welcoming 187,810 foreign visitors. This marks a 31.3 percent increase from a year ago, partly driven by the Dawoodi Bohra International Convention held in Colombo from July 7 to 19, which attracted approximately 15,000 foreign visitors. July’s tourist numbers represent
For the first time, Laos has granted visa-free travel access to Sri Lanka, along with 51 other countries, in an effort to boost the international tourism industry. This visa-free policy will be effective until December 31, 2024. Additionally, the duration of stay for a multiple-entry visa has been extended from 30 to 60 days. Other
Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has signed an agreement with the Capital Market Development Authority (CMDA) of Maldives to facilitate the cross-listing of companies in Colombo. This agreement primarily enables secondary listings of Maldivian companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and promotes mutual collaboration, capacity-building assistance, and regulatory information exchanges between the
The Maldives has overtaken the United Kingdom as the second-largest source of tourists for Sri Lanka in May, despite an ongoing controversy surrounding a new visa system implemented by Sri Lanka. This development comes amid concerns that a bilateral visa exemption agreement between the two countries may have been violated. The controversy centers around VFS