Introduction: Sibling visits are restricted in Sri Lankan neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), although they promote bonding, reduce anxiety , and support emotional adjustment without increasing the infection risk within NICUs. Sibling visits were introduced after developing a structured protocol, staff training, and preparation of siblings before the visit. Objective: To explore emotional reactions of siblings following NICU visits, with particular focus on illness-related and hospitalrelated distress Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in two tertiary care NICUs in Sri Lanka from July to December 2025. Children aged 5–8 years visiting the NICU for the first time were included. Following the visit, the children were invited to produce drawings that represented their experience. The drawings were thematically analysed to identify emotional responses and patterns of meaning. Results: Twenty-three siblings aged 5–8 years visited the NICU. Three mothers declined participation due to long-distance travel difficulties. Five themes were identified: understanding illness and separation, emotional distress, attachment to the neonate, positive hopes regarding reunion with the family , and emotional safety . Some children expressed mild anxiety related to illness and separation, but none showed fear of the NICU environment. Many drawings reflected affection and reassurance. Conclusions: Sibling visits were well tolerated in this sample and did not result in observable emotional distress. The structured preparation process may have contributed to these positive responses. Although the sample size was limited and the findings cannot be generalised, this study provides preliminary evidence that sibling visiting in NICUs in Sri Lanka is feasible and emotionally acceptable.