Foreign journalists welcome any time

The Foreign Ministry's attention has been drawn to media reports referring to a release by the Free Media Movement stating that a Canadian journalist has been asked "to provide a 'letter of agreement' as a Sri Lanka visa condition".

Foreign media personnel visiting Sri Lanka for normal news coverage can obtain visa without any condition or agreement of any kind.

Foreign media personnel coming to Sri Lanka with the objective of making documentary films need to obtain prior approval as per the procedure laid down by the National Film Corporation.

This is the normal procedure which has been followed over the past several years for filming of documentaries in Sri Lanka by foreign media personnel.

There are no new procedures which have been put in place and foreign media personnel are welcome to Sri Lanka at any time and report freely.