The authorities of Sri Lanka are currently considering extending free visas for Russians, said the ambassador of the country to Russia, Janitha Liyanage.
According to her, the visa was supposed to remain free until March 31, but it was decided to extend it for another month. Currently, the authorities are discussing further extensions.
Recall that at the end of last year, Sri Lanka introduced a visa-free regime for tourists from several countries, including Russia, India, and China. Travelers can enjoy a free visa with a validity period of 30 days. The program is valid until the end of April.
Last year, Sri Lanka was visited by 197,500 tourists from Russia, which is 116.4% more than in 2022 (91,700). This is a historical record for our country.
The share of Russians among all tourists in Sri Lanka in 2023 was 13%, meaning every eighth traveler was from Russia.
Local authorities expect the tourist flow to reach 3 million people in 2024.