COLOMBO : Sri Lanka’s passport has recorded an improvement in global rankings, marking one of its strongest performances in recent years and highlighting a steady recovery in the country’s international mobility standing.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index 2026 Global Ranking, Sri Lanka is ranked 94th in the world, with Sri Lankan passport holders enjoying visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 39 destinations worldwide.
The improvement represents a notable upward trend compared to previous years and reflects a steady strengthening of the Sri Lankan passport’s global position.
The latest ranking places Sri Lanka ahead of several countries in the lower tier of the index, while sharing the 94th position alongside Libya. The Henley Passport Index, regarded as one of the world’s leading measures of passport strength, ranks 199 passports based on access to 227 destinations globally without requiring a prior visa.
The 2026 result continues a positive trajectory for Sri Lanka after years of fluctuating rankings. Sri Lanka was ranked 96th in both 2024 and 2025, 100th in 2023, 102nd in 2022 and 107th in 2021. The latest ranking therefore represents a 13-place improvement from the country’s position just five years ago.
Historical data also shows that Sri Lanka was ranked 97th in 2020 and 96th in 2019, meaning the current 94th position is the country’s strongest placement since before the pandemic-era disruptions that significantly impacted global travel and mobility.
The latest improvement comes amid a broader recovery in international travel networks and growing engagement between Sri Lanka and foreign nations in tourism, trade, employment and diplomatic relations.
At the top of the 2026 Henley Passport Index, Singapore retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport, offering access to 192 destinations without a prior visa. Japan, South Korea and UAE ranked second with access to 188 destinations.
The latest ranking is viewed as a positive indicator for Sri Lanka, as passport strength is often seen as a measure of a country’s global connectivity, diplomatic reach and the ease with which its citizens can travel for tourism, business and employment opportunities.news frst
