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Friday, 26 November 2010 01:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Multiple visas to be made available to business travellers replacing tourist visas

The government is preparing to issue multiple visas to businessmen travelling to Sri Lanka for short periods of time to evaluate investment opportunities.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa addresses trade attachés of the Lankan missions abroad at the workshop jointly organised by the Export Development Board (EDB) and the CBI Institution in the Netherlands. Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiutheen is also present

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday told a gathering of trade attaches in Sri Lankan Missions abroad that that multiple visa facility will be available to all investment oriented travellers from their respective embassies.

The Minister was addressing trade attachés of the embassies posted to Sri Lanka, at the workshop jointly organised by the Export Development Board (EDB) and the CBI Institution in the Netherlands.

Rajapaksa acknowledged that there were constraints for businessmen travelling to Sri Lanka as they had to obtain a tourist visa, often under false pretences. He noted that this would have placed the traveller in an uncomfortable situation as well and therefore outlined the new plans, a media statement isused by his ministry explained.

“For years businessmen had to come to Sri Lanka on tourist visas. Under the Budget proposals new proposals have been introduced to streamline this process and make the environment more attractive for investors, and part of this will include the ability for businessmen to obtain multiple visas when they travel for official reasons to Sri Lanka,” he said.

Pledging to speedily implement this process the ministers had called on the officials to promote Sri Lanka as an ideal investment destination.