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Sri Lanka to allow visa free access to 35 countries: Harin
Colombo, August 21 (Daily Mirror)- The Cabinet has decided to allow 35 countries visa free access into Sri Lanka from October 1, 2024, Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism Harin Fernando said.
The countries include Germany, Netherlands, Australia, India, China and Japan.
The list of countries are as follows:
Comments - 56
Comments - Sri Lanka to allow visa free access to 35 countries: Harin
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Kanchana Wednesday, 21 August 2024 07:33 PM
That is the way to go if Sri Lanka wants to welcome more tourists.
4 54
DOT Thursday, 22 August 2024 06:51 AM
That's the strategy to appear in media by a excluded minister. Funny!
3 2
Steve Wednesday, 21 August 2024 07:50 PM
Now how to get a cut from visa issuing through third parties?
9 27
Aquarius Wednesday, 21 August 2024 08:01 PM
Good move, if tourism is to sustain in SL.
2 43
Adrian Wednesday, 21 August 2024 08:04 PM
My friend, visa-free travel should be reciprocal. They should allow Sri Lankans to travel visa-free as well.
41 34
M Wazeer Wednesday, 21 August 2024 08:37 PM
Mo Waz We need them more than they need us. If you want more tourists, this is the way forward.
3 50
Henry Jonklaas Wednesday, 21 August 2024 09:56 PM
You may wish for that, but don't hold your breath. Countries like Thailand also offer visa free travel to many countries . It's not reciprocated.
2 21
DOT Wednesday, 21 August 2024 10:20 PM
Yes, the tourist comes with money and you go out of the country with debt to earn more money
2 19
DOT Thursday, 22 August 2024 08:47 AM
Please brave enough to use your own identity. Real DOT
1 6
Sri Lankans Thursday, 22 August 2024 01:17 AM
No country will allows sri lankans visa free-because of security reasons. wherever they go they are involved in cheating, looting, drinking and fighting cases and overstay their visas. ladies go for prostitution and sleep with Indians, Bengali's and Nepalis especially in gulf countries. So Sri Lankans are not going to these countries for tourism or spend money. They are going to these countries to earn money through any way. so Reciprocal basis can be demanded only if you can reciprocate the other countries people who are educated, have brains and are rich enough to spend money on tourism.
5 15
Why? Wednesday, 21 August 2024 08:29 PM
Why is the list not in alphabetical order?
6 23
Rip Winkle Wednesday, 21 August 2024 09:07 PM
Because this is Sri Lanka where everything is 'Cart before the horse!'
6 18
Izzy Wednesday, 21 August 2024 10:20 PM
Because "Sorry Lanka" is in disorder!
5 14
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Friday, 23 August 2024 02:27 AM
PROBABLY FORGOTTEN THE ALPHABET TOO BUSY BUILDING CASTLES. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT SMILE TURN INTO HORROR ON THE 21ST. WE DO NOT GET HIGH SPENDING TOURISTS ANYMORE AS SOME SAY " WHY SHOULD BE COME TO PROP UP THE ECONOMY, WHEN THE GOVT IS DOING SWEET NOTHING TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR THE POOR". LOW BUDGET TOURISTS ARE THE MAJORITY AND SRI LANKAN'S VISITING FAMILY AND FRIENDS, NOT FORGETTING THE SCAMMERS, PROSTITUTES, MONEY LAUNDERS WHO ASRRIVE AS TOURISTS IN ORDER OPERATE AWAY FROM THEIR COUNTRIES. DRUGS MAINLY COME ALONG THE COAST LINE AND IS PICKED UP BY OPERATORS GOING OUT TO SEA, OR BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTRY BY THOSE GOING THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT EXIT WITH HELP FROM CORRUPT CUSTOMS OFFICIALS.
0 0
Gayan Wednesday, 21 August 2024 08:34 PM
India? Without VISA fee these people are loss making.
24 36
Joshua Wednesday, 21 August 2024 09:10 PM
Do anything and get list by 21st Sep
2 9
Joshua Thursday, 22 August 2024 05:22 AM
I mean get lost
2 3
Pusa Wednesday, 21 August 2024 09:14 PM
Good move but it also shows our desperation.
18 10
Ant Thursday, 22 August 2024 01:37 AM
What an idiot. It is not desperation iyt is common sense and good business practice. Always like knocking don;t you wanker?
4 11
Pusa Thursday, 22 August 2024 09:39 PM
Learn how to type and spell you imbecile because there isn't a word called "iyt" and there isn't a word called "don;t" (the apostrophe is next to the enter key). Prick !
0 4
Pusa Thursday, 22 August 2024 09:39 PM
Learn how to type and spell you imbecile because there isn't a word called "iyt" and there isn't a word called "don;t" (the apostrophe is next to the enter key). Prick !
0 4
Roisin Wednesday, 21 August 2024 09:35 PM
My family is Irish!
4 7
Roisin Wednesday, 21 August 2024 10:08 PM
My family is Irish! And Ireland is not on the list! You always complain about the fact that Britain colonized and robbed Sri Lanka, well the North of Ireland is still a colony of Britain. So please show some solidarity;-)
10 12
Saemus O'Brien Thursday, 22 August 2024 03:47 PM
Ireland is not a big source of tourists . Irish people eat a lot of potatoes and Sri Lanka doesn't have enough to feed them. Please ask your family to move to UK.
3 8
Mahesh Wednesday, 21 August 2024 10:16 PM
Tourism industry is very competitive and we need to think very creatively to attract more tourists into the country. Previous regimes didn’t have any of this creativity and hence suffered a huge impact.
2 20
RAVIOP Wednesday, 21 August 2024 10:55 PM
SINGAPORE??
1 5
W. Boettcher Wednesday, 21 August 2024 10:57 PM
I'm a German. So Visa free access is great. But they don't say for how long time I can stay. Usually I always come for six months.
0 9
Logical Thursday, 22 August 2024 12:17 AM
Visa free travelers from poor countries might engage in activities other than tourism. Better to check whether they have enough money for their stay, at the port of entry.
3 5
wsw Friday, 23 August 2024 03:36 AM
Good point, especially tourists coming form India.
0 1
Need training Thursday, 22 August 2024 12:47 AM
They are all wealthy countries whose tourists are of the luxury travel market, except for the expats who come to visit their families. Sri Lanka does not have the capacity or standing to consistently cater to high end tourists. Staff needs to be highly trained professionals with international training on how to conduct themselves in this category of travelers. Most often hotel staff gape and stare at tourists, don't know when to talk and what to say, ask intrusive questions or complain about their life in Sri Lanka. These high end tourists don't eat SL food either but many luxury hotels in Colombo serve it anyway for lack of quality international menu offerings, limiting the food choices of foreign visitors. They may come once but probably will choose Thailand, Maldives, UAE, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and India where luxury standards are the highest.
18 8
Banda Thursday, 22 August 2024 04:23 PM
I completely agree with you. I also considered these professional questions. They must be addressed before we can expand our capabilities. I also believe that we must address environmental concerns, improve sanitary facilities, and provide high-quality security and services to incoming tourists as soon as possible. These are investments. Not a waste of money.
1 4
Expat Thursday, 22 August 2024 01:25 AM
Trying to get out of VSF visa scam country loosing so much of foreign exchange when allowing all these people including expats who paid USD 50/= and an additional usd 100/- for extension without any complains to come to the country on free visa basis. Guys who introduce VFS deserve capital punishment for depriving so much Dollars to our bankrupt country
8 4
Kevin Thursday, 22 August 2024 02:37 AM
This came after a group of people filed a court case against the visa scam.
2 4
Tony Pereira Thursday, 22 August 2024 02:48 AM
Commission will be 100% x $0.00 = $0.00
1 3
Hon. Sarneris Thursday, 22 August 2024 04:31 AM
But Lankans are chased away from most countries and embassies.
1 4
Ram Thursday, 22 August 2024 04:45 AM
They are all rich countries. Why not charge $10 at the immigration counter for instant visa for 3 months or whatever duration. That will bring us some Forex. Almost all the exempt countries require a visa from us
4 5
Prof Maheepala Thursday, 22 August 2024 04:48 AM
Singapore ? It’s the only develop country provides us on-arrival visas. These fellows wants to jeopardize the benefits Sri Lankans . No common sense.
6 3
Pete Barter Thursday, 22 August 2024 05:26 AM
Whilst this as exceptionally good news for the countries that have been approved, it seems to be a very Irresponsible. Sri Lanka is trying to recover after the disastrous era of the Rajapaska government debt. Tourism is Sri Lanka's greatest asset, and I imagine that the projected 2024 Tourist arrivals of 1 million would increase government revenue to the tune of several billion LKR, which would go a long way to repaying some of the Chinese Loans.
1 4
Jayantha Thursday, 22 August 2024 06:44 AM
Good move
0 7
Tissa Fernando Thursday, 22 August 2024 06:49 AM
UAE started providing visa free access and developed their tourism potential. Then the created value added services to tourists.
0 4
Sambo Thursday, 22 August 2024 07:20 AM
I thought you had to give up your ministerial post as you lost your parliamentarian seat. Seems to be still hanging around.
0 3
Sanjeewa Thursday, 22 August 2024 07:52 AM
Why Singapore is not in the list. They allowed us entry without Visa for so long??
0 8
Aki Thursday, 22 August 2024 08:18 AM
When would be the nations on the list provide us visa free travel for Thier country?
7 2
Dr. Nilmini G.S.Ratnayake Thursday, 22 August 2024 01:52 PM
Please add Myanmar
2 2
Cherath Thursday, 22 August 2024 02:34 PM
At last something praiseworthy from a government trying to hold itself together! It's a good move in the right direction and better late than never!
1 3
DW from UK Thursday, 22 August 2024 03:10 PM
This is great news. This will significantly increase tourist arrivals and it's a huge boost to the tourism sector.
2 2
K .BANDARA Thursday, 22 August 2024 03:38 PM
i can remember Namal going to Russia to meet prostitutes at our expense
1 3
Roisin Thursday, 22 August 2024 04:52 PM
Why? They live in Ireland. I am the only one living in Sri Lanka.
2 2
Mick Thursday, 22 August 2024 08:01 PM
Oh do hush up you daft Leprechaun.
3 2
Roisin Thursday, 22 August 2024 11:46 PM
Do you and Seamus know the meaning of the word "ironic" ?
0 3
Roisin Friday, 23 August 2024 01:23 AM
Did you and Seamus ever heard of the word "ironical" ?
0 3
Aram Thursday, 22 August 2024 06:25 PM
An adviser post valid only for one month,funny
0 1
Nikang Thursday, 22 August 2024 09:14 PM
Looks like VFS ‘s bribe has gone to waste minister must be laughing with loot !
0 1
Ahmed Saturday, 24 August 2024 11:10 AM
Citizens are paying the cost for it now
0 0
Anura Friday, 23 August 2024 09:34 AM
Then who is going to pay for the VFS or what ever fees services to pay? Mind you like Free Education, Free Health …….and this is also free, finally it’s the people of this country who has to pay as TAX for all these tamashas. As well as additional Commis, Sell assets (Eg. Hell Ton) with crooked deals, end of the day Kankaloth LANKA is the answer. At least I guess every Public Servant, Politico MP, Consultant etc. should be made compulsory doing basin Maths exam for them to work.
0 0
Soori Maripalan Saturday, 24 August 2024 09:02 AM
This sacked PINA is still up??
0 1
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