ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistani people are allowed to enter the territory of Sri Lanka without paying any visa fees in accordance with a new policy which aims at boosting tourism and people-to-people contacts between the states.
Sanjiva Paththuwala, Consul General of Sri Lanka, stated in his interview that online visa requests of Pakistani citizens usually get approval within two days.
The decision on waiving visa fees is presumed to attract many people from Pakistan to visit Sri Lanka, as both states are interested in expanding their cooperation not only in the sphere of tourism.
In addition, the Consul General mentioned that it is one of the steps of improving their relationship in such spheres as education, business, investments and even the military sector. He stressed that the facilitation of the visa regime will help boost contacts of entrepreneurs, students and tourists.
The country actively promotes itself as a destination for travelers from Pakistan through such opportunities as beaches, cultural sights, wildlife parks, and hill resorts.
The Government of Sri Lanka has taken many initiatives to attract tourists from Pakistan by highlighting various tourist destinations including beaches, historical sites, wildlife parks, and hill stations. It is believed that the eased visa process would also facilitate Sri Lanka’s efforts in the tourism sector and encourage more tourists to visit the country.
This initiative indicates the increased involvement of Islamabad and Colombo in making an effort to enhance their economic and cultural cooperation by improving connectivity and ease of movement.
