Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday ordered authorities to immediately remove Pakistan from all “negative” visa lists after meeting Federal Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Naqvi raised concerns about visa difficulties faced by Pakistani nationals during the meeting. Acting on the request, President Dissanayake directed the relevant departments to exclude Pakistan from all restrictive visa categories, a move expected to ease travel for Pakistani citizens and the business community.
President Dissanayake also announced that Sri Lanka’s prime minister will soon visit Pakistan.
Both sides discussed cooperation in counterterrorism, anti-narcotics efforts and joint training of security forces. The Sri Lankan president thanked Pakistan for its support during difficult times and appreciated Islamabad’s decision to play a T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo, calling it a gesture of goodwill.
In a post on X, President Dissanayake confirmed his meeting with Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain and said both countries reaffirmed their longstanding friendship.
Naqvi conveyed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation for the Sri Lankan president to visit Pakistan and thanked the Sri Lankan leadership for hosting the Pakistani delegation during the T20 World Cup.