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Sri Lanka to waive visa fees for 40 more countries – Foreign Minister
Jul 25, 202501:35 PM
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Sri Lanka to waive visa fees for 40 more countries – Foreign Minister

The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to waive visa fees for 40 additional countries to boost tourism, stated Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

 

He made these remarks at a ceremony held in Colombo today (25 July).

 

The “Hotel Show Colombo 2025” exhibition was inaugurated this morning at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall in Colombo.

 

The event was held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

 

“In the past, we allowed tourists from seven countries to visit Sri Lanka without charging visa fees. The United Kingdom was among them,” Minister Herath noted.

 

“At the most recent Cabinet meeting, we decided to waive visa fees for entry to 40 additional countries. Accordingly, once the relevant gazette notification is issued, a total of 47 countries will be able to visit Sri Lanka without a visa fee.”

 

The Minister emphasized that by taking this decision, the Treasury will forgo an annual income of approximately USD 66 million.

 

“However, while we may lose that amount directly, we expect to generate greater indirect income for the country through the growth of the tourism industry,” he said.

 

“The responsibility of ensuring this growth now lies with those of you engaged in the tourism sector,” the Minister added.

 

List of Countries: 

 

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 

 

 

 

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