Sri Lanka has expanded its visa-fee waiver to 40 countries in a bid to boost tourist arrivals.
While the initiative is expected to result in an annual revenue loss of around USD 66 million, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath expressed confidence that the increase in tourism-related income will offset the shortfall.
Here is the full list of countries now eligible for free-visa to Sri Lanka.
(*Indicates countries already under the earlier visa waiver scheme.)
1. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2. Federal Republic of Germany
3. Kingdom of the Netherlands
4. The Kingdom of Belgium
5. The Kingdom of Spain
6. The Commonwealth of Australia
7. Republic of Poland
8. The Republic of Kazakhstan
9. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
10. The United Arab Emirates
11. Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
12. People’s Republic of China *
13. The Republic of India *
14. The Republic of Indonesia *
15. The Russian Federation *
16. The Kingdom of Thailand *
17. The Federation of Malaya *
18. Japan *
19. Republic of France
20. United States of America
21. Canada
22. Czech Republic (Czechia)
23. Republic of Italy
24. Swiss Confederation (Switzerland)
25. Republic of Austria
26. State of Israel
27. Republic of Belarus
28. Islamic Republic of Iran
29. Kingdom of Sweden
30. Republic of Finland
31. Kingdom of Denmark
32. Republic of Korea
33. State of Qatar
34. Sultanate of Oman
35. Kingdom of Bahrain
36. New Zealand
37. State of Kuwait
38. Kingdom of Norway
39. Republic of Türkiye
40. Pakistan
