COLOMBO (Kashmir English): Sri Lanka is proceeding with its plan for introducing a six-month program that includes free tourist visas for passport holders of 39 countries, including Pakistan.
The government has announced that draft regulations for the program will be introduced to parliament once approved by the cabinet. The program is aimed at promoting the growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa announced during a post-Cabinet media briefing that the initial approval for the program was given at a Cabinet meeting held on July 21, 2025. As part of the program, tourists will be issued tourist visas for free.
The countries whose passport holders will be issued free tourist visas include Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States.
The draft regulations have been drawn up by the Legal Draftsman’s Department in conformity with the Immigration and Emigration Act. The suggestion was made by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs.
Once parliament gives its nod to the suggestion, the program would be implemented for six months, during which tourists from these countries would be able to explore Sri Lanka without any visa charges.
