WANA (Aug 24) – Sri Lanka has announced that it will issue free tourist visas to several countries, including Iran, China, Russia, and the United States, in a bid to attract tourists and revitalize its struggling economy.

 

Bandula Gunawardena, the Sri Lankan government spokesperson and Minister of Transport stated that starting from October 1st, the country will offer 30-day visas at no cost to tourists from 35 countries for a six-month trial period.

 

The initiative aims to position Sri Lanka as a visa-free destination, similar to Singapore and Thailand, to help the nation benefit from a growing tourism industry.

 

The list of 35 countries includes India, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and several others.

 

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Sri Lanka, with a population of 22 million, is renowned for its ancient heritage sites, sandy beaches, temples, and tea plantations.

 

The island nation, located in the Indian Ocean, has been working to recover its tourism sector, which was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a severe financial crisis.

 

Last year, the country welcomed nearly 2 million tourists for the first time since 2019.