Sri Lanka removes Pakistan from negative visa lists after Naqvi meeting

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has ordered the immediate removal of Pakistan from all “negative” visa lists after a meeting with Federal Home Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

The development is considered a significant step towards easing travel problems for Pakistani citizens and strengthening bilateral ties.

During the meeting, Naqvi raised the issue of visa problems faced by Pakistani nationals. President Dissanayake immediately directed the authorities to remove Pakistan from all negative visa categories, bringing relief to Pakistani travelers and businesses.

The President of Sri Lanka also announced that his country’s Prime Minister would visit Pakistan soon.

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Discussions during the meeting included cooperation in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and joint training of security forces.

Expressing appreciation for Pakistan’s support to Sri Lanka in difficult times, President Dissanayake thanked Islamabad for agreeing to play a T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo, terming it as a gesture of goodwill.

In a post on his X handle, he said he met Naqvi and Overseas Pakistanis Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, adding that both sides reaffirmed their enduring friendship. Naqvi praised the Sri Lankan President’s role in promoting Pakistan-Sri Lanka relations and conveyed an invitation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to visit Pakistan.

He also thanked the Sri Lankan management for the arrangements and hospitality extended to the Pakistani delegation during the T20 World Cup.