COLOMBO — Sri Lanka's cabinet approved issuing free tourist visas to visitors from 35 countries including China, India and Russia, a top official said on Thursday (Aug 22), in an effort to boost tourism and help revive its crisis-hit economy.
Tourists visit Gangaramaya Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 25,2024.COLOMBO — Sri Lanka's cabinet approved issuing free tourist visas to visitors from 35 countries including China, India and Russia, a top official said on Thursday , in an effort to boost tourism and help revive its crisis-hit economy.
"The aim of the government is to transform Sri Lanka into a free visa country, much like Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to tap into the benefits of a rapidly growing tourism industry," Gunawardana told reporters at a weekly cabinet briefing. The country of 22 million people, famed for its beaches, ancient temples and aromatic tea, saw its tourism industry pummelled first by the Covid-19 pandemic and then by a severe financial crisis in 2022 that saw mass scale protests and shortages of essentials such as fuel.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sri Lanka approves free tourist visas for 35 countries to boost tourismCOLOMBO: Sri Lanka's cabinet approved issuing free tourist visas to visitors from 35 countries including China, India and Russia, a top official said on Thursday (Aug 22), in an effort to boost tourism and help revive its
Read more »
Sri Lanka defends diplomat fined for exploitation in AustraliaCOLOMBO: Sri Lanka's government has defended a top diplomat ordered by an Australian court to pay over US$360,000 in back wages to her former housekeeper held in Canberra under "slavery-typ
Read more »
Key contenders in race to become Sri Lanka’s next presidentThe Sept 21 vote will set the course for the island nation after its worst economic crisis since 1948.
Read more »
Sri Lanka presidential candidates submit election nominationsCOLOMBO: Thirty-nine candidates for Sri Lanka's presidential election submitted nominations on Thursday (Aug 15) as the Indian Ocean island nation prepares for a Sep 21 vote key to charting its path out of a gruelling financial crisis.
Read more »
Sri Lanka raise security concerns over England test series amid UK riotsSri Lanka have raised security concerns with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) amid the ongoing anti-immigrant riots in Britain, with players requesting increased security ahead of their upcoming test series against England.
Read more »
Fernando, Wellalage guide Sri Lanka to rare ODI series win over IndiaAvishka Fernando scored a superb 96 and Dunith Wellalage took five wickets as Sri Lanka thumped India by 110 runs in Colombo on Wednesday to seal a first bilateral one-day international series win over their south Asian neighbours in 27 years.
Read more »