Border ease will benefit Maldives, Sri Lanka: Nasheed

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated today that removing border controls set up between Maldives and Sri Lanka will benefit both countries. 

Nasheed, who has close ties with Sri Lankan politicians, said today in a post on X that removing border controls between Maldives and Sri Lanka will bring about numerous benefits for the citizens of both nations, including social and economic advantages. 

Cancelling visa and work permit requirements will broaden tourism and business relations as well as strengthen people to people ties, Nasheed opined. 

Nasheed's comments came after Maldives' High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, noted yesterday that Maldivians face difficulties in obtaining Sri Lankan visas. 

In remarks shared with Sri Lankan media outlet 'Daily News', Masood said that the embassy is now frequently receiving complaints from Maldivians residing in Sri Lanka that it has become difficult to obtain visas, and that the Sri Lankan Immigration's services are discriminatory. 

Masood stated that Maldivians are often required to remain in long Immigration queues from 9am to 5pm, despite which preferential treatment is shown to some other nationalities. He said that now, it is necessary to conduct visa formalities through an agent for convenience. 

Although Sri Lanka used to be the preferred destination for Maldivians seeking better education and health services, the number of Maldivians opting to do so has significantly decreased due to such issues, Masood said. Sri Lankan Immigration officials are prone to yelling at Maldivians at their offices, and communicate with them in disrespectful language, he said, citing complaints.  

Masood further said that these issues arose after the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. He said that he has failed to receive a response to date from Sri Lankan authorities to a query he sent asking if, after the Easter Sunday bombings, Maldives has been declared a country that poses a national security threat to Sri Lanka.