Sri Lanka has come up with the pilot project, allowing India, Russia, Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to visit the country without visas till March 31, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Ali Sabry announced it on X, formerly Twitter after Sri Lanka Cabinet approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking to X, he said that the pilot project, which commenced immediately, will extend until March 31, 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sabry further said that the Cabinet approves issuing of free visa to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot project till March 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Ministry, the country aims to attract 5 million tourists in the coming years. The move is also expected to save money and time spent on obtaining visas for the travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was announced by the Ministry of Tourism last week that a proposal to issue free tourist visas for travellers from five countries was presented in the Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet paper was reportedly presented jointly by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ministry has announced that the Cabinet has proposed an e-ticketing system for most tourist sites in the country in the near future. Local media reported this news. As per the reports, India was in the lead with more than 30,000 arrivals, which constituted 26% of the total, while Chinese tourists came second with over 8,000 arrivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Easter Sunday bombings in 2019 led to a decline in tourism, resulting in the loss of 270 lives and injuring over 500 individuals, including 11 Indians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sri Lanka has been facing economic challenges since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. Today, protests have erupted, calling for President Rajapaksa’s resignation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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