Cabinet green-lights free visa entry for seven countries

The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday (23) decided to grant a visa fee waiver for tourists from seven nations that hold the highest share of tourist generation namely India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand with immediate effect, the Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando announced.

Under the pilot launched by the Ministry in order to revive the tourism industry, tourists from the seven countries will be eligible for free tourist visas until March 31, next year.

The Ministry of Tourism and Lands declared that a joint Cabinet Paper has been submitted during the preceding Cabinet meeting by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry with the purpose of issuing a visa waiver programme for non-immigrants.

The proposed programme awaits growth of tourist arrivals to five million for the next few years whilst enabling convenience and affordability.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Mr. Priantha Fernando mentioned that the above decision aims at revamping Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.