In today’s world, where mobility defines influence, Sri Lanka finds itself at a crossroads. According to the CEOWORLD magazine’s Global Passport Power Ranking 2025, the country currently sits at 89th place, on par with Burundi and only eleven spots ahead of North Korea. That ranking underscores both a challenge and an opportunity.
Sri Lankan passport holders require visas for 141 destinations worldwide. Compare that with Singapore’s 23 visa requirements or the United Arab Emirates’ 19, and the gap is striking. Pakistan and Bangladesh fare worse—153 and 148 visa requirements respectively—but Sri Lanka remains far from the global elite.
The absence of visa-free access to the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States further limits Sri Lankans’ global mobility. For executives, investors, and professionals, this restriction hampers not just personal convenience but also cross-border business opportunities.
“Sri Lanka is not visa-free to Europe, the UK, Canada, or the US. It doesn’t rank in the top tier of passports. However, the power of the passport can be increased,” explains Caroline Mtr., JD, Esq, Chief Economist & Executive Director of Global and Strategic Initiatives at CEOWORLD magazine.
She notes that with carefully designed investment migration programs, countries can enhance global mobility for citizens while attracting much-needed capital. For Sri Lanka, such reforms could transform its passport from a limiting factor into a strategic asset—strengthening economic resilience and opening new opportunities for investors and global citizens alike.
The Global Benchmark
The Global Passport Power Ranking sorts passports by their Mobility Score (MS)—a composite that includes visa-free access, visa-on-arrival options, electronic travel authorizations (eTA), and expedited eVisa processes. The higher the MS score, the greater the global mobility.
At the very top sits the United Arab Emirates, with visa-free access to 133 countries, plus 46 more via visa-on-arrival, eTA, or eVisa. Stability, visionary policymaking, and a currency board–like monetary system make the UAE an investment magnet and a mobility powerhouse.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, struggles with monetary instability—critics point to excessive money printing, rate cuts, and exchange controls that have triggered repeated currency crises. Combined with heavy outmigration (often through unofficial channels), the situation presents both risk and urgency.
Investment Migration: A Strategic Lever
CEOWORLD magazine has long advised governments on how to enhance passport strength while simultaneously attracting investment. The key tool? Investment migration programs—structured pathways to citizenship or residency in exchange for capital inflows.
“Stable countries, especially those with low tax rates, can attract foreign investors through investment and residency schemes,” explains Caroline. “We propose investing in citizenship and residency schemes for foreign investors, enabling them an extra citizenship in case of insecurity in their home country, to be able to relocate or to travel to a country like Sri Lanka, which their own initial passport does not allow them to do.”
Residency in Sri Lanka could appeal to investors who see strategic tax benefits or want to establish a base in South Asia. The island nation’s unique geographic position—straddling key Indian Ocean trade routes—could also give it a competitive advantage.
Still, Sri Lanka would be entering a crowded field. Singapore, Dubai, and Hong Kong already dominate with low taxes, investor-friendly frameworks, and globally respected passports. To attract serious investors, Sri Lanka must carve out a unique niche.
Targeting New Demographics: Retirees & Global Citizens
Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads, with the dual challenge of improving its global passport ranking and attracting foreign investment. For a nation navigating economic uncertainty, the path forward may lie in a strategy already embraced by many forward-looking economies: investment migration programs.
According to Prof. Dr. Amarendra Bhushan Dhiraj, CEOWORLD magazine’s Executive Chair, CEO, and Editorial Director, Sri Lanka has a genuine opportunity to reposition itself on the global stage.
“Sri Lanka’s passport ranking today reflects limited mobility, which restricts both citizens and investors. By carefully designing and implementing residency and citizenship-by-investment programs, the country can strengthen its global standing while simultaneously securing much-needed foreign capital. This dual benefit—enhanced passport power and capital inflows—can become a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s long-term growth strategy.
To improve its ranking, Sri Lanka must engage in bilateral agreements with key economies, ensuring broader visa-free access for its citizens. Parallel to this, structured investment migration schemes can be developed to channel foreign capital into priority sectors such as real estate, agriculture, and infrastructure. A program tied to flagship projects like Colombo Port City could immediately attract high-net-worth individuals seeking second residency or citizenship options.
Global investors today are not just looking for mobility; they are seeking stability, lifestyle advantages, and tax efficiencies. Sri Lanka can position itself as a strategic hub in South Asia by offering transparent, credible, and competitive pathways to residency. With the right governance, due diligence, and incentive structures, Sri Lanka could rival established destinations that already dominate this space.
Improving passport strength is not merely about travel convenience. It signals to the world that a country is open, stable, and globally integrated. Coupled with a well-executed investment residency program, Sri Lanka can create a virtuous cycle—enhancing its international reputation, attracting foreign direct investment, and offering citizens and investors alike greater global access.”
For Sri Lanka, the stakes could not be higher. A stronger passport and a credible investment residency framework would not only bring in capital but also restore confidence, transform the nation’s global image, and unlock a new era of economic opportunity.
Investment residency programs are not just about entrepreneurs and hedge fund managers. Countries across Asia—from Thailand to Malaysia—have successfully targeted retirees looking for cost-effective yet high-quality living options.
“The same can be said for people who may want to relocate while on a retirement scheme, similar to those who flock to Thailand or Malaysia,” Caroline notes.
For Sri Lanka, this could mean positioning itself as a retirement haven for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking tranquility, cultural richness, and favorable tax treatment. A carefully designed program could tap into a multi-billion-dollar global market of retirees seeking new lifestyles abroad.
Sri Lanka’s Debt Crisis and the Investment Imperative
Sri Lanka is currently navigating a severe debt crisis, with limited fiscal flexibility. According to Prof. Dr. Amarendra Bhushan Dhiraj, CEOWORLD magazine’s Executive Chair, CEO, and Editorial Director, investment residency programs could serve as a lifeline.
“Sri Lankans could also benefit from such programs. With Sri Lanka in a debt crisis, investment residency schemes could help the country get funding,” he said.
The opportunities lie in real estate, agriculture, and the ambitious Colombo Port City project. By structuring these sectors into residency or citizenship-by-investment programs, Sri Lanka could unlock fresh streams of foreign capital.
Real Estate: From Port City to National Potential
Real estate development is a natural candidate for investment migration. Around the world, programs often allow foreign investors to purchase property in exchange for residency rights.
“If a property developer has ideas for projects in Port City that they would like to bring to market, we could help them with that and structure their project as part of the country’s citizenship by investment program for foreign investors,” Caroline explained.
This model has worked elsewhere. From Portugal’s Golden Visa to Greece’s property-linked residency schemes, foreign capital has flowed in, creating new growth engines for real estate, hospitality, and infrastructure.
Agriculture: A Modernization Play
Beyond real estate, Sri Lanka has untapped potential in agriculture. The country’s fertile land and favorable climate offer natural advantages, but access to modern technology remains limited.
“From my observation of the agricultural sector, there’s a lack of access to the latest technology. I think that could be an avenue for the government to look at to direct funds into,” Caroline said.
By integrating agriculture into residency programs—whether through agri-tech investment, export-oriented farms, or climate-resilient projects—Sri Lanka could attract both capital and expertise.
Competing on the Global Stage
Sri Lanka is not alone in pursuing this path. Global competition for mobile wealth is fierce. The success stories—Dubai, Singapore, and Hong Kong—share three critical traits:
• Low or competitive tax regimes • Strong global mobility through powerful passports • Stable, investor-friendly political and economic environments
For Sri Lanka, achieving all three will be challenging but not impossible. A carefully structured program, combined with genuine reforms in fiscal policy and governance, could transform the country’s position in the global wealth migration landscape.
Executive Takeaway
Sri Lanka may rank near the bottom of the global passport hierarchy today, but its story is not static. By embracing investment migration programs, the nation could enhance passport strength, attract fresh inflows of foreign capital, and position itself as a strategic hub in the Indian Ocean.
For investors, the appeal would be twofold: a potential tax advantage and access to one of Asia’s most strategically located markets. For Sri Lanka, the payoff could be transformative—unlocking growth in real estate, agriculture, and infrastructure while stabilizing its fragile fiscal outlook.
The challenge is urgent, but so is the opportunity. If Sri Lanka takes decisive action, its passport could become more than a travel document—it could evolve into a gateway for global capital and economic revival.
(Despina Wilson - CEO World Magazine)
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