Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry yesterday insisted on the necessity of diverting the attention from visa fees controversy to establish Sri Lanka as a top-tier tourist destination.

“We must shift our focus away from visa fees. Instead, we should look at providing complimentary visas to citizens of over 50 countries,” he told journalists at the Presidential Media Centre. 

The Minister said such a move could ignite excitement within the tourism sector and boost visitor numbers.

Sabry’s proposal aims to reinvigorate the tourism sector to enhance visitor numbers, aligning with recent efforts to woo more tourists to the country.

The Minister’s comments come in the wake of Tourism Minister Harin Fernando’s announcement last week regarding a joint Cabinet paper submitted with Foreign Affairs Minister Sabry. The paper proposes facilitating visa-free access for citizens of 67 countries, a move aimed at stimulating tourism and promoting Sri Lanka as a preferred travel destination.

By removing visa fees for citizens of selected countries, Sri Lanka aims to streamline the travel process and attract more tourists seeking hassle-free vacations.

However, the Government’s recent moves to transition to a global visa processing company and increase visa fees garnered widespread criticism. 

The controversy also led to the decision to reinstate the single-entry visa at $ 50 all-inclusive. 

On Tuesday, visa controversy raged in the Parliament yesterday with Opposition MPs describing it as similar to the infamous bond scam as well as a daylight robbery. 

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