Malaysia is actively considering granting visa-free entry for Sri Lankan travellers, a move aimed at strengthening bilateral tourism ties and increasing tourist arrivals, according to Tourism Malaysia.

Nuwal Fadhilah Ku Azmi, Senior Director of International Promotion (Asia & Africa) at Tourism Malaysia, revealed the proposal during a recent meeting with a Sri Lankan delegation in Putrajaya, which included officials from SriLankan Airlines and media representatives. She confirmed that formal proposals have been submitted to the Malaysian Government, with support from the Malaysian High Commission in Colombo.

“The initiative would benefit greatly from an official request by the Sri Lankan government,” she added.

In a bid to promote travel between the two countries, SriLankan Airlines has partnered with Tourism Malaysia to roll out attractive vacation packages and tourism campaigns. This collaboration aligns with Malaysia’s broader strategy of easing travel barriers, following the recent visa-free entry announcements for China and India.

According to Zulhelmi Mohammed from Tourism Malaysia’s International Promotional Division for Asia and Africa, Sri Lankan tourist arrivals in Malaysia surged to over 58,000 in 2024, marking a 122% increase from 2019 figures. Malaysia now targets 31.4 million tourist arrivals in 2025, with a long-term goal of reaching 35.6 million by 2026.

During the briefing, Deepal Perera, Corporate Communications Manager at SriLankan Airlines, emphasized that visa-free access could lead to a significant rise in Sri Lankan travellers to Malaysia. Meanwhile, Solehuddin Ahmad, Deputy Director of the South Asia Unit, highlighted that the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign will focus on eco-tourism and cultural experiences, with strategic pillars including sustainability, heritage, nature and adventure, digital innovation, and global connectivity.

The official launch of VM2026 and World Tourism Day 2025 will be hosted in Malacca this September, celebrating the theme “Tourism & Sustainability.”

This latest development is seen as a timely effort to strengthen Malaysia’s presence in the South Asian market while promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism growth.