Sri Lankan workers in Maldives remit USD 129 million annually

Sri Lankan nationals working in Maldives remit around USD 129 million (about MVR 2 billion) to Sri Lanka each year, a figure that should be increased, according to Sudesh Mendis, the recently outgoing President of the Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council.

In an interview with Daily News, Mendis said more than 21,000 Sri Lankans are currently employed in the Maldives, with most working in the tourism sector.

He praised the Maldivian tourism industry, describing Maldives as one of the world’s most diverse and expensive destinations. Mendis noted that some resorts charge as much as USD 7,500 per night.

Mendis said Sri Lanka had once been a key partner of Maldives and that bilateral relations should be revitalized.

“If we learn from the past and work together, we can restore the friendship that existed earlier,” he said.

He also said the sharp decline in the number of Maldivians living in Sri Lanka had resulted in significant economic losses for Sri Lanka.

According to Mendis, around 17,000 Maldivians lived in Sri Lanka before the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, but that number has since fallen to about 1,400.

“The estimated revenue loss for Sri Lanka is about USD 100 million a year,” Mendis said in a Facebook post.

When asked about who would be responsible for restoring ties, Mendis said the Business Council was working to revive what he described as the “golden years” of Sri Lanka–Maldives relations.

His comments come amid concerns raised by Maldivian ambassador to Sri Lanka Masood Imad over difficulties faced by Maldivians living in Sri Lanka.

Masood told Daily News that he has received numerous complaints about visa-related issues and alleged unfair treatment by Sri Lankan immigration authorities.

He said Maldivians are often made to wait in long queues from 9 am to 5 pm, while some other foreign nationals are given priority.