Sri Lanka has announced the implementation of a 'one-chop' visa system for visitors from 38 countries. This decision, approved by the Cabinet and announced by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry
ri Lanka has announced the implementation of a 'one-chop' visa system, which grants visa-free entry for travelers from 38 countries.
The decision was approved by the Cabinet and is set to be enforced immediately, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry stated in a X post.
This move aligns Sri Lanka's entry process with that of Singapore, simplifying procedures at border control points. The initiative aims to reduce delays at Bandaranaike International Airport (Katunayake), which has faced criticism for long wait times. Initially, Sri Lanka planned to extend visa-free entry to 35 countries starting in October, and it is likely that these countries are included in the new list. There has been no announcement on which 38 countries are eligible for the new facility from the authorities yet.
The countries initially considered for the visa-free entry included the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nepal, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, France, the United States, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, Belarus, Iran, Sweden, South Korea, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and New Zealand. The 'one-chop' system is expected to further streamline the entry process, potentially boosting Sri Lanka's tourism sector, which is crucial for the country's economy.
