Free visa to continue for seven countries
Visa issuance responsibility with Immigration and Emigration Dept
It was decided yesterday (6) to maintain the existing $50 fee for a 30-day visa for foreigners visiting the country and the free visa service currently offered to citizens of seven countries – India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia will continue, while the visa issuance responsibility will be handled solely by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the President’s Media Division announced yesterday.
Since there has been a significant progress in the tourism industry in the country, many parties in the tourism sector have requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the past few days to keep the maximum fee of a visa issued when a foreigner arrives in Sri Lanka at the limit of US$50.
They have further pointed out that it is a boost for the future development of the tourism industry. Accordingly, the above decisions were taken after the President explained the matters to the Cabinet.
