Sri Lanka has announced a six-month program to grant free tourist visas to passport holders from 39 selected countries in a move aimed at boosting tourism.
The initiative was approved at a Cabinet meeting held on July 21, 2025, following a proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs and endorsed by the Cabinet.
According to Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa, the program will be implemented under the Immigration and Emigration Act, with draft regulations prepared by the Legal Draftsman to be presented to Parliament for approval.
The government expects the policy to attract more international visitors and strengthen Sri Lanka’s position as a leading travel destination.
The 39 countries included in the program are Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
