One-month visa extension granted for delayed tourists

The government has decided to grant a one-month extension on tourist visas for visitors who were unable to travel to Sri Lanka within the originally permitted period, Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe announced.

The Minister noted that many tourists have already obtained visas and are waiting to arrive on scheduled flights, but delays caused by prevailing conditions have resulted in some visas nearing expiration before travel could take place.

He stated that the government will extend the validity of such visas by an additional month from their original expiry date, allowing visitors to enter the country without inconvenience.

In a related move, the Minister said a request has been made to the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy to increase fuel quotas for those in the tourism sector. The proposal seeks to provide double the usual petrol or diesel allocation for registered tourism operators.

According to the Minister, eligible businesses and individuals would need to present valid registration certificates issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority or other accepted identification.

These measures are intended to support the tourism industry by easing travel difficulties for visitors while also addressing fuel needs to help ensure the sector continues to operate smoothly.