News

The Government of Sri Lanka has approved a new visa-free entry scheme for 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, in a move designed to boost tourism, encourage trade, and enhance global connectivity.

The announcement, made by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Tourism and Lands, Harin Fernando, confirms that visitors from the 40 countries will no longer be required to pay for a tourist visa when travelling to Sri Lanka. While the exact date of implementation is still to be confirmed, the measure has already been approved by Cabinet and is expected to come into force later this year.

The list of eligible countries includes:
United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Canada, France, China, India, Australia, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ireland, Portugal, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Maldives.

This marks a significant expansion of Sri Lanka’s previous pilot visa-free programme, which covered only a small group of countries including India, China, Russia, and several ASEAN nations. The move is expected to significantly increase international visitor arrivals and position Sri Lanka as one of the most accessible destinations in South Asia.

Sri Lanka welcomed more than 2 million visitors in 2024, with tourism revenues contributing over USD 1.5 billion to the economy. The UK consistently ranks among Sri Lanka’s top tourist source markets.

Supporting Economic Recovery

The visa waiver is part of a broader national strategy to revitalise the Sri Lankan economy following the pandemic and recent financial challenges. By removing entry barriers, the government hopes to stimulate travel, investment, and job creation across the country—particularly in the hospitality, services, and infrastructure sectors.

While the waiver could reduce visa fee income by approximately USD 66 million annually, it is expected that increased visitor spending and renewed investor interest will more than compensate for the short-term revenue loss.

CWEIC welcomes this positive step toward strengthening international engagement and looks forward to continuing our support for trade and investment across the Commonwealth and beyond.