Sri Lanka, situated in South Asia, is known for its incredible natural environment, full of picturesque beaches, rainforests, mountains and more.
The country has seen a significant rise in its tourism industry, but the country is now calling for more visitors to explore its beauty – especially Brits.
The new government is expected to finalise an agreement next week to allow UK visitors to enter the country without a visa. If all goes well, the new policy will apply to visitors from December 1.
In August, there was a plan for UK tourists to be allowed to visit Sri Lanka for 30 days on a free visa under a six-month programme, meant to start on October 1.
The following month, the country then expanded its ‘visa-free’ entry to 38 nationalities, including Brits.
At the time, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry shared a post on X that said: “Today, the Cabinet authorised 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.”
However, in October, the reintroduction of a visa requirement arrived with immediate effect.
Now, Sri Lanka’s new government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has decided to introduce visa-free entry for British tourists as well as other nationalities, calling it a “priority.”
The country’s representatives shared at a World Travel Market event in London that the new government, which came into power at the end of September, hopes to bring a “new approach to tourism.”
According to Sri Lanka’s Tourism Director of Marketing Dushan Wickramasuriya, Brits make up 10% of the country’s visitors – the country’s main European market.
He said: “Traditionally Sri Lanka has been a beach holiday but over the years we have seen that changing. Around 80% of British travellers are now doing ground tours and visiting cultural sites, such as the Kandy temple, and visiting wildlife. British travellers are looking for more than a standard tour.”
Sri Lanka Airlines plans to increase flights between the UK and Sri Lanka to twice daily starting in January 2026.
It currently operates nine weekly flights from Heathrow to the country’s capital, Colombo, with two flights available on both Saturdays and Sundays.