Sri Lanka has suspended issuing on-arrival visas to all countries, including the Maldives.
As a precautionary measure against the current COVID-19 outbreak, the Sri Lankan government temporarily suspended issuing on arrival visas.
The Maldivian Foreign Ministry had previously stated that the visa facilitation agreement between Sri Lanka and Maldives will not be affected due to the new restrictions. As such, Sri Lankan authorities issued on-arrival visas to those arriving from Maldives over the past two days.
However, the country has now suspended issuing visas even to those from countries Sri Lanka has visa facilitation agreements with. Therefore, Maldivians will no longer be given an exemption.
A population of over 15,000 Maldivians reside in Sri Lanka. The Maldivian government has advised all Maldivians in Sri Lanka to register themselves at the Maldivian High Commission in Sri Lanka, and urged all Maldivians not to travel unless absolutely necessary. The government has also advised to remain indoors, and not to go to crowded areas as a precaution against COVID-19.
Ten people have tested positive for COVID-19 from Sri Lanka thus farm while 11 have tested positive from the Maldives.
