(Web Desk) – Sri Lanka has removed Pakistan from all negative visa lists with immediate effect following high-level diplomatic talks in Colombo, a move widely seen as a breakthrough in bilateral relations and a step toward easing travel for Pakistani citizens.
The decision was announced after a meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. During the discussions, Naqvi raised concerns about visa-related difficulties faced by Pakistani travelers and business professionals. In response, President Dissanayake ordered the immediate removal of Pakistan from all negative visa categories.
The development is expected to facilitate smoother travel processes for Pakistani nationals, including businesspeople, tourists, and professionals, while enhancing people-to-people contacts between the two countries. Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Maj Gen (retd) Fahimul Aziz, were also present at the meeting.
President Dissanayake reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced that the Sri Lankan prime minister is expected to visit Pakistan soon, signaling continued high-level engagement and cooperation.
The talks also highlighted sports diplomacy, particularly cricket, which remains a strong pillar of Pak-Sri Lanka relations. The Sri Lankan president expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s decision to play a cricket match against India in Colombo, describing it as a goodwill gesture. Naqvi, in his capacity as PCB chairman, thanked Sri Lanka for hosting arrangements during the T20 World Cup and for the warm reception extended to the Pakistani delegation.
Beyond diplomatic and sporting cooperation, both sides discussed enhanced collaboration in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics initiatives, and joint training programs for security forces. Officials emphasized the importance of coordinated regional efforts to address shared security challenges.
Analysts view the removal of Pakistan from negative visa lists as a significant step toward improving bilateral relations, boosting trade and tourism, and reinforcing broader strategic cooperation between the two South Asian nations.
