Malaysia is set to offer visa-free travel to Sri Lankan tourists as part of efforts to increase tourist arrivals, but an official request from the Sri Lankan government is needed to move forward, High Commissioner Badli Hisham Adam said.
Malaysia has already introduced visa-free initiatives with other countries, including China and India, and is keen to extend this benefit to Sri Lanka, Adam said. However, he explained that such agreements should be made on a government-to-government basis.
“We would like to open Malaysia to everyone, but Sri Lanka should come to us to discuss this high-level arrangement,” Adam said.
The initiative is part of Malaysia’s Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, which aims to double the number of Sri Lankan tourists to 100,000 by 2026. Sri Lanka recorded 58,015 tourists to Malaysia in 2024, a 122% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The campaign will highlight Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism offerings, including medical and community-based tourism, and promote lesser-known destinations beyond Kuala Lumpur.
Sri Lanka remains an important market for Malaysia, ranked among the top 20 source countries in 2024 and the second highest in South Asia after India. With 30 weekly flights from Colombo and exclusive tour packages available, the two countries look forward to strengthening their ties.
