Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed the immediate removal of all obstacles faced by Pakistanis seeking visas to Sri Lanka.
The decision was made during a meeting with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain.
President Dissanayake acknowledged Pakistan’s support during Sri Lanka’s challenging economic period and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. He also announced that Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister is expected to visit Pakistan soon to further enhance cooperation between the two countries.
During the discussions, Pakistani officials raised concerns about difficulties faced by citizens in obtaining Sri Lankan visas. In response, the president ordered Pakistan’s removal from any restrictive lists, ensuring smoother and more efficient travel procedures.
The talks also focused on enhancing collaboration in counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics initiatives, and joint military training programmes. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between their interior ministries to address shared security challenges.
President Dissanayake appreciated Pakistan for hosting a T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and India in Colombo, highlighting its positive role in boosting bilateral goodwill.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi thanked the Sri Lankan leadership for facilitating improved visa procedures and extended an invitation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for an official visit to Pakistan.
Earlier, Pakistan and Sri Lanka agreed to expand cooperation in internal security, counter-terrorism efforts, and anti-narcotics measures. The recent visit to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Home Affairs marked another step toward deeper strategic coordination between the two nations.
The development is expected to ease travel for Pakistani citizens and further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Islamabad and Colombo.
