Sri Lanka has announced special support measures for tourists affected by the ongoing severe weather, including free visa extensions and flexible airline policies to ease travel disruptions.
According to the authorities, all tourists whose visas have expired during the current situation will receive visa extensions free of charge. Officials said this decision was taken to ensure visitors are not penalised or inconvenienced due to unavoidable delays caused by floods and transport disruptions across the island.
Airlines operating to and from Sri Lanka have also introduced a series of flexible measures. These include a full waiver of flight cancellation fees and date-change charges for travellers who are compelled to reschedule their flights due to the adverse weather. Carriers have been instructed to allow affected passengers to adjust travel dates without additional costs.
In addition, a simplified verification process has been introduced. Tourism authorities noted that a passenger’s own declaration that they were impacted by the weather will be sufficient to qualify for fee waivers and flexible rebooking.
Officials urged tourists currently in the country to stay safe, follow official advisories and reach out to the 1912 tourism hotline for assistance. (Newswire)
