Sri Lanka is moving forward with a plan to introduce a six-month program offering free tourist visas to passport holders from 39 countries.
A government official said draft regulations for the initiative will be presented to parliament after receiving cabinet approval. The program is aimed at supporting the recovery and growth of the country’s tourism sector.
Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said during a post-cabinet media briefing that the proposal had originally been approved at a cabinet meeting on July 21, 2025. Under the scheme, eligible visitors will be granted tourist visas free of charge.
The selected countries include Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The draft regulations have been prepared by the Legal Draftsman’s Department in accordance with the Immigration and Emigration Act. The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs before being endorsed by the cabinet.
Once approved by parliament, the program will be implemented for a period of six months.
