Sri Lanka announces visa-free access to Indians, 34 other nations from October 1
Sri Lanka has announced a significant policy shift, granting free visa access to citizens of 35 countries, including India, effective from October 1. This move is aimed at boosting tourism and rejuvenating the island nation’s economy.
According to Harin Fernando, advisor to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Tourism, the list of countries benefiting from this policy includes major economies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Israel, New Zealand, and regional neighbors like Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and Australia.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry has hailed this development as a crucial first step towards establishing a visa-free regime. On social media platform X, Sabry expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential to revive the tourism sector. “First steps towards a visa-free regime!” he posted, adding that recent data from the Sri Lankan Tourism Authority indicates a positive trend in tourist arrivals.
Tourism numbers have seen a rebound from the pandemic’s lows. In 2023, Sri Lanka welcomed 1,487,303 tourists, and 1,315,884 have visited so far in 2024. These figures are a marked improvement from the 1,913,702 visitors in 2019, just before the pandemic hit.
Minister Sabry is hopeful that these measures will help Sri Lanka return to its pre-COVID tourism levels. “We are well on course to achieve the pre-COVID level. @Sri Lanka can – Sri Lanka will!” he asserted.
As Sri Lanka approaches its presidential election on September 21, the political landscape is also evolving. Current President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who assumed office in July 2022 following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has announced his candidacy for re-election. However, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the largest parliamentary party, has opted to field its own candidate instead of supporting Wickremesinghe. The SLPP, associated with the Rajapaksa family, continues to influence Sri Lankan politics significantly.
This upcoming election and the new visa policy both reflect pivotal moments for Sri Lanka as it navigates its recovery and future prospects.
