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90-day visa free deal between Sri Lanka and the Maldives
View(s):An agreement due to be signed between Sri Lanka and the Maldives next week will allow visa free entry for 90 days for Sri Lankans visiting the Maldives and Maldivians visiting Sri Lanka.
The agreement will be signed during the official visit of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to the Maldives from tomorrow to September 4.
The Cabinet this week approved the proposed agreement.
The agreement would exempt citizens from each “Contracting Party” (country) from the obligation to obtain visas in respect of a stay not exceeding 90 days from the point of entry, provided they are in possession of a valid passport and sufficient funds to support their stay.
However, such exemption shall be granted subject to the application of the relevant laws and regulations of the Contracting Party.
Should Sri Lankans or Maldivians wish to stay in each other’s country for more than 90 days, they will be required to go through relevant procedures including payment of the relevant visa fees in accordance with regulations of the competent authorities.
As part of the agreement, Sri Lanka and the Maldives would also grant multiple-entry student visas for those enrolled in study programmes at each other’s government-recognised educational institutions for the duration of their academic course.
The agreement, however, does not restrict the rights of either country to prohibit “unacceptable persons (persona non grata)” from entering its territory or to terminate their staying in its territory without citing reasons.
Either country can also suspend the implementation of the agreement partly or wholly on the grounds of national security, public order and public health. However, the country concerned must be notified in advance of such suspension of the agreement and any subsequent revival through diplomatic channels. The suspension and revival shall enter into force upon the day of that notice.
Once signed, the agreement shall remain in force for an indefinite period and may be terminated by either country by written notification through diplomatic channels, and it shall enter into force 90 days after the date of such notification. The termination shall not affect the rights of nationals who have already entered the territory of either country.
At present, there are around 30,000 Maldivians in Sri Lanka while many Sri Lankans are working in the Maldives, mainly in the hotel and travel sectors.