Sri Lanka has prematurely introduced a simplified visa-free regime for citizens of Belarus, Russia and 36 other countries.
This was announced by the head of the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, Ali Sabri.
His statement was quoted by local publication Newswire .
How Sri Lanka simplified entry for Belarusians and Russians
A simplified visa-free regime for citizens of Belarus, Russia and 36 other countries is valid from September 2 to March 31.
Initially, the country planned to introduce visa-free entry from October 1 for citizens of 35 countries.
The new rules provide for the abolition of visa-on-arrival requirements.
Now, the entrant will simply have a stamp placed in their passport indicating the date of entry.
According to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, this will help reduce congestion at visa counters.
