Visa is still required for visitors from 48 countries to enter Sri Lanka, but the fee has been waved off in order to boost the tourism industry, Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Controller General Pasan Ratnayak said whilst addressing a press briefing in Colombo recently.

“The exemption is only for the fee. It is still necessary for tourists to have visa prior to arrival,” Ratnayak said.

“Tourists who want to come to Sri Lanka should log in to www.eta.gov.lk and apply for the visa. The immigration authorities will then check the passports for blacklists and other procedures and then issue the visa”, Ratnayak added.