Maldives Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Omar Abdul Razzaq discussed on “easing of visa issues faced by Maldivians” with the country’s Controller General of Immigration and Emigration R.N.P.S.D Basnayake.

The two met on Thursday.

In a tweet posted afterwards, Maldives’ embassy in Lanka tweeted that both parties had “discussed easing of visa issues faced by Maldivians.”

Following the terrorist attack on April 21, Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency which was extended earlier this month.

While thousands of Maldivians reside in Sri Lanka, there have been reports of various issues in acquiring visas.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid had traveled to the neighboring country back in May, and met with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other officials to “discuss the newly introduced changes to the resident visa regime”. A number of lawmakers from main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was recently in the country to show solidarity following April’s attack.

In addition, Ambassador Razzaq met with Minister for City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education Rauff Hakeem on Thursday.

Both parties “discussed higher education opportunities for Maldivian students in Sri Lankan Universities, especially in the field of medicine.”