Sri Lanka has announced a major relief for international travellers.
The country will now offer free visas on arrival to tourists from 40 countries, including India.
The free visa will remain valid for 30 days and will allow double entry from the date of first arrival.
The move is expected to boost tourism and attract more visitors to the island nation.
India continues to be the biggest source of foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka.
What Indian Travellers Need to Know
According to Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration, travellers from eligible countries must still obtain Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arriving in the country.
However, the visa itself will be issued free of cost under the new scheme.
The government said this facility will also apply to countries that have bilateral reciprocity agreements with Sri Lanka, including Singapore, Maldives, and Seychelles.
Want to Stay Longer Than 30 Days?
Travellers planning a longer vacation can extend their stay after arriving in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan government said that tourists who receive the free visa can apply for an extension by paying the required visa fee.
Apart from the free ETA facility given to selected countries, all other standard Sri Lanka ETA rules and regulations will continue to remain in effect.
Countries Included in the Free Visa Scheme
The list includes India along with several major countries such as:
Australia
Canada
China
France
Germany
Japan
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
UAE
UK
USA
Other countries like Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia, Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and New Zealand are also part of the scheme.
Who Can Use This Facility?
Sri Lanka has confirmed that the free tourist visa scheme applies to travellers holding:
Diplomatic passports
Official passports
Service passports
Ordinary passports
The decision is being seen as a strong step toward reviving tourism and making travel to Sri Lanka easier and more affordable for international visitors.
