COLOMBO, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is set to introduce a six-month program granting free tourist visas to passport holders from 39 countries, with draft regulations to be submitted to the parliament following cabinet approval, a government official has said.
The initiative, aimed at supporting the recovery and growth of the tourism sector, was initially approved at a cabinet meeting on July 21, 2025. Under the program, eligible visitors will be issued tourist visas free of charge, cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Draft regulations for the scheme have been prepared by the Legal Draftsman's Department in line with the provisions of the Immigration and Emigration Act. These regulations will now be presented to the parliament for approval. The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs and subsequently endorsed by the cabinet. ■
