![Jenny Han Dropped a Major ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Easter Egg Revealing [SPOILER] – yahoo.com](https://earth-news.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/319001-jenny-han-dropped-a-major-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-easter-egg-revealing-spoiler-yahoo-com-360x180.jpg)
Sri Lanka has announced visa-free entry for Indian tourists under a pilot project that has begun with immediate effect until March 21, 2024.
Apart from India, six other countries have been added in the list. They are: China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand.
The country’s foreign affairs minister Ali Sabry made the announcement on Tuesday (Oct 24) on social media platform X.
“Cabinet approves issuing of free visas to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia & Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot project till 31 March,” he said.
The move comes five days after a proposal was made in this regard during a Cabinet meeting last week to give free tourist visas to foreigners from five countries who intend to visit Sri Lanka as tourists.
Lanka’s economy heavily relies on tourism
Sri Lanka’s economy heavily relies on inbound tourism, with India accounting for the majority of tourist arrivals.
The move is expected to give a major boost for the crisis-hit island which has been battling persisting high inflation, unemployment and deteriorating economy post the Covid pandemic.
The move is aimed at attracting more tourists to the island nation. “We are expecting to increase tourist arrivals to five million over the coming years,” the ministry was quoted as saying in Sri Lankan media outlets.
Country seeks a turnaround
In September, India led with more than 30,000 arrivals, comprising 26 per cent of the total, while Chinese tourists followed as the second-largest group with over 8,000 arrivals, reports PTI news agency citing official figures.
Apart from that, the Cabinet also proposed an e-ticketing system for most of the tourist sites in Sri Lanka in the near future.
The proposed free visas and e-ticketing system will save money and time spent on obtaining visas, the statement read.
The development also comes a month after Ali Sabry in an exclusive interview with ANI news agency said that Sri Lanka is looking at forging a closer relationship with India while adding they are trying for electricity, renewable energy, tourism and port shipping connectivity.
(With inputs from agencies)
recommended stories
)
Sperm caught breaking Newton’s third law of motion, know how
)
American politician arrested in Hong Kong for carrying gun, barred from leaving city
)
Putin found ‘lying on floor’ after allegedly suffering cardiac arrest, reports suggest
)
PM Modi attends Dussehra celebrations in Delhi, urges people to end distortions like casteism
)
Morning brief: Hamas releases two more hostages, unrest in Brazil after death of crime boss, and more
)
Humans have ‘lost control,’ no amount of emission cut will slow down melting of Antarctica’ ice shelves: Study
)
US President Biden says may support Gaza ceasefire only after hostages are freed
)
Israel-Hamas war LIVE updates: Hamas claims to have released two hostages; UNGA to discuss war on Thursday
)
Told India to remove military troops from Maldives: President-elect Mohamed Muizzu
)
Planet Nine might not be a planet at all but something else entirely: Study
)
SA vs BAN Head-to-head: World Cup 2023-South Africa vs Bangladesh pitch report, weather update, live streaming
)
Indian Navy’s ‘spotter drones’, US-origin MQ-9Bs supported ISRO’s Gaganyaan TV-D1
)
Explained: Why did Israel bomb Syrian airports in the thick of its ongoing war with Hamas?
)
World Cup 2023: Rift brewing in Pakistan dressing room? PCB releases a statement
)
Wagh Bakri Director Parag Desai dies after stray dog attack
recommended stories
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : WION – https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-announces-visa-free-entry-for-india-six-other-countries-to-boost-tourism-650739
