October 16, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s position on the global travel stage has weakened further, with the country’s passport dropping to 98th place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index—two places lower than its previous ranking. This decline highlights the continuing constraints Sri Lankan citizens face in terms of international mobility.
According to the latest update of the index, holders of a Sri Lankan passport now have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 41 countries. This limited access places Sri Lanka among the lower tier of passports worldwide, underscoring ongoing diplomatic and policy challenges affecting travel freedoms.
The Henley Passport Index, a widely recognised global ranking of passport power, assesses 199 passports based on their access to 227 international destinations. It is used as a key reference for understanding the relative ease—or difficulty—of global travel for citizens of different countries.
In stark contrast, Singapore has once again claimed the top spot in the 2025 rankings, with its passport offering visa-free entry to an impressive 193 destinations. South Korea follows closely in second place with 190 countries, while Japan sits in third, granting access to 189 destinations without prior visa requirements.
