Foreign Minister Vijith Herath has announced that Sri Lanka will begin issuing one-year visas to Maldivians starting next month.
According to Sri Lankan newspapers citing the minister, Maldivians have previously been issued only short-term visas. However, starting from next Friday, they will begin issuing long-term visas, allowing Maldivians to reside in Sri Lanka for up to one year, as reported by these newspapers.
As Sri Lanka decides to extend the visa duration for Maldivians, the country’s President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is scheduled to make an official visit to the Maldives next Monday. It is expected that these visa changes will be announced during this visit.
Currently, Maldivians can obtain a 30-day visa on arrival in Sri Lanka. However, this can be extended online to six months for a fee.
Vijith stated that many Maldivians previously traveled to Sri Lanka for medical treatment. However, this practice was halted due to strict regulations, according to the minister as reported by these newspapers.
“That decision has been reversed, and we have decided to issue one-year visas to Maldivians,” he said.
In recent efforts to boost the tourism sector, Sri Lanka has also eliminated visa fees for 40 countries, including nations from Asia and Europe.
