Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath says Thailand has included Sri Lanka among the countries for which the visa‑free entry facility will be cancelled from September 15.
Speaking at today’s post‑Cabinet media briefing, Minister Herath revealed that in recent times a number of Sri Lankans had been caught engaging in illegal activities, and following these developments, Thailand decided to add Sri Lanka to the list of countries losing visa‑free entry.
The Thailand Embassy has confirmed that from September 15 onwards, all Sri Lankans travelling to Thailand must obtain a visa prior to departure.
Minister Herath noted that the Sri Lankan Government has already discussed the matter with Thai authorities.
He explained that proposals have been made to establish a bilateral agreement on visa facilities, with the expectation that such an agreement will be signed in the near future.
Through this arrangement, Sri Lanka hopes to regain visa privileges for its citizens, he said.
Further elaborating, the Minister pointed to recent incidents, including narcotics being smuggled from Thailand to Sri Lanka and monks arriving with illegal substances.
He revealed that bilateral talks are underway, with both the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Attorney General’s Department involved in drafting the agreement.
Minister Herath further said that he intends to discuss the matter with relevant Thai officials during a visit to the country on September 14.
He expressed confidence that once signed, the agreement would restore visa facilities for Sri Lankans travelling to Thailand. (Newswire)