Sri Lanka’s plan to introduce visa-free entry for travellers from 33 additional countries has been delayed, pending legal clearance from the Attorney General’s Department, the local news outlet EconomyNext reported. The initiative, originally announced in July 2025, was intended to expand the current list of seven countries eligible for free Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to a total of 40, as part of the government’s tourism revival strategy.
Foreign and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that implementation has not yet begun due to unresolved legal matters linked to a previous visa outsourcing arrangement. “We have to submit the new gazette notification to parliament. After that, we will implement that process. We expect to finalise it within one or two months,” Herath said during a post-Cabinet media briefing.
The minister further noted that the Attorney General’s office must provide clarity on issues related to revenue implications, as an ongoing court case over the previous online visa management system—handled by VFS, IVS, and GBS—has yet to conclude. The suspended outsourcing deal, active from April 2024 until halted by court order in August 2024, had drawn criticism for excessive fees and alleged irregularities in revenue remittances to the state. A special audit by the Auditor General has since highlighted concerns regarding fee structures and transparency.
At present, Sri Lanka offers free ETA entry only to travellers from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand. Minister Herath emphasised that the government remains committed to expanding the scheme once legal clearance is secured, describing it as essential for strengthening the tourism sector while ensuring proper safeguarding of state revenue.
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