The Experience Travel Group has hailed the announcement that Sri Lanka has dropped its visa requirement for visitors of 38 nationalities “with immediate effect”.
Sam Clark, co-founder and director at the Asia specialist operator, said: “It’s great news for UK operators as British holidaymakers can travel without a visa.
“It means that UK visitors don’t need to get an ETA in advance, or queue at a visa counter in the airport.
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“Visitors now simply get a stamp (or a chop as it’s described) when passing through immigration.”
The change was announced on X, formerly Twitter, by Ali Sabry, minister of foreign affairs, on Monday (September 2).
He said: “Today, the Cabinet authorized the President to implement visa-free access for 38 nationalities with immediate effect, adopting Singapore’s streamlined ‘one-chop’ approach. This decision will help ease congestion at visa counters.”
Last month, Sri Lanka had said it would allow temporary visa-free access scheme to UK citizens from October 1 for a period of six months.
“Today, the Cabinet authorized the President to implement visa-free access for 38 nationalities with immediate effect, adopting Singapore’s streamlined ‘one-chop’ approach. This decision will help ease congestion at visa counters.”
— M U M Ali Sabry (@alisabrypc) September 2, 2024