Sri Lanka has decided to give visa-free entry to citizens of 35 countries from October 1. The list includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Oman, and 32 other countries. Citizens of these countries will be able to stay in Sri Lanka for 30 days without a visa. This visa-free facility will be valid for six months.
Which countries are included?
This list includes many important countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China, Israel, New Zealand, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and Australia.
What is the aim of this policy?
This new visa policy of Sri Lanka is being implemented with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations and promoting travel and economic exchange. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Saudi Arabia ranks third among potential tourism markets for Sri Lanka and was ranked 23rd in terms of tourism exports in June 2024.
What does the Sri Lankan minister say?
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry welcomed the move, calling it an important step towards a visa-free regime.
What is the state of tourism in Sri Lanka?
According to Sri Lanka Tourism Authority data, before COVID-19, 2,333,796 tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2018 and 1,913,702 in 2019. The numbers dropped during the pandemic but there are 1,487,303 tourists in 2023 and 1,315,884 so far in 2024. Sabari expressed hope that Sri Lanka will soon regain its pre-COVID-19 tourism numbers.
What is going on in Sri Lanka’s political scenario?
In other news, Sri Lanka will elect a new president on September 21. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took office in July 2022 after Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned, has announced his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election. However, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which is the largest party in parliament and is linked to the Rajapaksa brothers, has decided not to support Wickremesinghe and field its own candidate.