Scheme to provide free visas to 40 countries coming through

The Government has decided to expedite its plans to provide free visas for citizens from 40 counties amidst indications of a drop in tourist arrivals.

Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath told the Sunday Times that the scheme to provide free visas will be finalized and submitted to be cabinet on Monday. He said they hope to get Parliamentary approval in April. 

The scheme was initially proposed in December 2025.

However Minister Herath said that Sri Lanka has recorded a 15 per cent drop in tourist arrivals due to the prevailing war in West Asia and therefore the government has decided to expedite the free visa scheme.

He said that the objective was to attract more tourists into the country at a time when there was a drop in arrivals.

The Minister said that they hope to attract tourists from China, India, Russia and European counties.

The countries are: UK and Northern Ireland, Germany, Netherlands,  Belgium, Spain, Australia,  Poland, Kazakhstan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,  UAE, Nepal, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia,  Japan, France, USA, Canada,  Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland,  Austria, Israel, Belarus, Iran, Sweden, Finland,  Denmark,  Korea, Qatar,  Oman, Bahrain,  New Zealand,  Kuwait, Norway, Türkiye and Pakistan.