(COLOMBO) – The Sri Lankan authorities have extended until April 30, 2024 the gratis visas issued to seven countries with the aim of boosting the local tourist industry, a senior Minister said.
In October last year the Government approved visa-free entry for visitors from seven countries – India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand as a pilot project until 31 March 2024.
Earlier, the Tourism Minister Harin Fernando had stated that the purpose of exempting tourists from many countries from visas is to “attract more tourists to Sri Lanka. “Accordingly, it is expected to increase tourist arrivals to five million over the coming years”, according to the minister.
In another move to attract more foreign visitors to the cash-strapped island-nation the authorities decided to provide driving licenses to foreign visitors on arrival at the country’s main airport in Katunayake.
