According to a report published on dailynews.lk, Maldivian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Masood Imad has raised serious concerns over what he described as discriminatory and unfair treatment faced by Maldivian nationals at Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration.
The High Commissioner was quoted as saying that Maldivian visitors are often forced to remain in long queues from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm to secure visas, while individuals with fair skin appear to be processed more swiftly. He stressed that Maldivians are also foreign visitors and should be treated with the same respect and efficiency.
“I am perplexed as to why officials only consider those who arrive in Sri Lanka with fair skin as visitors,” he said.
As reported by Daily News, High Commissioner Imad noted that Maldivian students and their parents frequently wait for hours when applying for visas individually, whereas applications submitted through travel agents are granted immediately without difficulty. He alleged that this disparity raises concerns about possible financial benefits being received by officials when applications are routed through agents.
“Maldivians are required to pay extra fees when applying for visas through travel agents,” he said.
The envoy further claimed that Maldivian citizens are reprimanded and shouted at by Immigration officials and are not treated as visitors. He cited a recent incident in which a senior Maldives Customs official travelling to Colombo on holiday was taken into a room for questioning, despite visiting Sri Lanka purely for leisure.
The High Commissioner warned that if such treatment continues, the Maldivian Government may be compelled to review its visa policy for Sri Lankan professionals working in various sectors in the Maldives.
According to the Daily News report, the number of Maldivians travelling to Sri Lanka for medical treatment, education, and tourism has declined sharply from around 8,000 to approximately 1,500. He added that many Maldivian students are now opting for South India, citing better educational facilities and scholarship opportunities.
High Commissioner Imad also said he had sought clarification from Sri Lankan authorities on whether the Maldives had been designated a country of security concern following the Easter Sunday attacks, but noted that he was still awaiting an official response.
While acknowledging that the visa duration for Maldivian students has been extended from six months to one year, he said the longer validity is granted only after students undergo additional screening by the State Intelligence Service.
Emphasising long-standing bilateral ties, the High Commissioner said the Maldives has consistently supported Sri Lanka in international forums. He also highlighted cooperation in maritime affairs, noting that Maldivian fishing vessels do not infringe Sri Lankan waters, while Sri Lankan vessels entering Maldivian waters are fined and deported without the issue being escalated diplomatically.
He called on Sri Lankan authorities to address the concerns and ensure fair and respectful treatment for Maldivian nationals visiting the country.
