Sri Lanka’s Passport Slides to 97th

Sri Lanka’s passport has once again taken a hit in the global stakes. According to the freshly released Henley Passport Index 2025, we’ve dropped one spot, landing at 97th place. Last year we were 96th, so the slide continues, and this year we’re sharing the rung with Iran.

What does that mean in practice? Holders of the Sri Lankan passport can now enter only 41 destinations without a prior visa. Forty-one. In a world where Singaporeans and Japanese can practically stroll into almost every country, our mobility looks more like a local bus pass than a global ticket.

The Henley Index is no casual blog list. It is regarded as the most authoritative passport ranking, measuring 199 passports against 227 destinations. When it says Sri Lanka is slipping, the statement carries weight.

Naturally, the chatter has already started. In offices, coffee shops and online groups, the explanations fly thick and fast: it’s the economic crisis, it’s the stalled e-passport upgrade, it’s the poor track record in negotiating new visa waivers. Everyone has a theory, and none of them are flattering.

Neighbours in the region are moving ahead. India, despite its own bureaucratic headaches, has managed to secure more access than Sri Lanka. The Maldives, with far fewer people and resources, remains a preferred destination for global tourists while Sri Lanka’s passport struggles to get recognition.

Officials, as always, promise that talks are underway to expand visa-free arrangements. But promises have a long history here of fading quietly without delivery. A travel agent summed it up crisply: “We’re selling more visas than tickets these days.”

 

The Sri Lankan passport has become more symbol than substance. Until the state finds ways to repair its credibility abroad and provide real mobility at home, travellers will need to keep their application forms ready and their expectations low.