Sri Lanka to offer visa-free entry to citizens of 35 countries, including India

As per the latest news reports, starting October 1, 2024, Sri Lanka will grant visa-free entry to citizens from 35 countries, including India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

This six-month initiative, approved by the Sri Lankan Government, is aimed at boosting tourism and strengthening international ties.

The move is expected to make travel to Sri Lanka more accessible and attractive, especially for Indian tourists, who have historically been the largest group of international visitors to the island.

If reports are to go by, the visa-free access will be available to travellers from a diverse list of countries, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, and several others.

This initiative follows a pilot project launched in October 2023, which provided free visas to citizens from seven countries, including India and China.

The success of this pilot likely influenced the government's decision to expand the program to more nations.

For Indian travellers, this policy is particularly significant. India has consistently been Sri Lanka’s top source of inbound tourism.

In 2023, Indian tourists accounted for 20% of all international arrivals in Sri Lanka, with over 246,000 visitors. The new visa-free policy is expected to further increase these numbers, making it even easier for Indians to want to explore the country.