The decision was announced on the final day of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s three-day official visit to Male, marking his first trip to the Maldives since assuming office last year.
“This initiative is offered under the provisions of the bilateral agreement on visa facilitation between Sri Lanka and the Maldives,” Dissanayake’s office said in a statement.
The Maldives’ decision to grant free on-arrival tourist visas to Sri Lankans comes in reciprocal spirit, following Sri Lanka’s earlier move to extend a year-long visa-free travel facility to Maldivian citizens.
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Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is also preparing to significantly expand its own free visa policy to revitalise its tourism sector and support economic recovery. Speaking at a press conference, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that cabinet approval had been granted to broaden the list of countries eligible for free tourist visas from the current seven to 40.
“The Free Visa regime is already in place for nationals of China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan from March 2023,” Herath said. “We have stabilised the economy, and through policy changes in tourism, we aim to ensure steady growth in arrivals.”
The newly added countries include the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Pakistan, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia, among others. While the initiative is expected to result in a potential revenue loss of USD 66 million annually from visa fees, Herath emphasised that the indirect benefits through increased tourist inflow would more than compensate for the shortfall.
President Dissanayake’s visit to the Maldives and the reciprocal visa liberalisation measures signal a renewed push for deeper regional cooperation and reflect Sri Lanka’s broader strategy to reposition itself as a competitive and welcoming destination for global travellers.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
