Federal Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi secured a major diplomatic breakthrough during his official visit to Sri Lanka, as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake ordered the immediate removal of visa-related restrictions affecting Pakistani citizens.
According to 24NewsHD TV Channel, the high-level meeting took place in Colombo, where Naqvi engaged in comprehensive discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The talks marked a significant moment in diplomatic engagement between the two countries, long regarded as close partners in South Asia.
During the meeting, Naqvi formally raised concerns about the difficulties faced by Pakistani nationals in obtaining Sri Lankan visas.
He highlighted the procedural delays and restrictive classifications that had created hurdles for Pakistani travellers, businesspersons, and families seeking to visit Sri Lanka.
In response, President Dissanayake took immediate notice of the issue and directed the relevant authorities to remove Pakistan from all restrictive lists, effectively ending the complications that had impacted Pakistani applicants.
President Dissanayake also expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s decision to play its T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo.
He described the gesture as a reflection of goodwill and sportsmanship, noting that such cooperation contributes positively to regional harmony.
Sri Lanka, he said, values Pakistan’s consistent support in sporting and diplomatic forums.
Naqvi, in turn, thanked the Sri Lankan leadership for the arrangements made during the T20 World Cup and for the hospitality extended to the Pakistani delegation.
He commended the organisational standards and the spirit of collaboration demonstrated during the international sporting event.
Both sides discussed collaboration in counterterrorism efforts, counternarcotics operations, and joint training programmes between their respective security forces.
Naqvi conveyed a formal invitation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to President Dissanayake to visit Pakistan. The Sri Lankan President welcomed the invitation and reiterated his resolve to further deepen ties with Islamabad.
President Dissanayake also indicated that Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister would soon undertake an official visit to Pakistan, signalling continued high-level exchanges between the two governments.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Major General (Retd) Faheem ul Aziz, underscoring the importance Islamabad attaches to strengthening diplomatic and institutional cooperation with Colombo.
Sri Lanka hails Pakistan’s support during difficult times
In a post on X handle after the meeting with Mohsin Naqvi, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appreciated Pakistan's support for his country during difficult times.
He mentioned his meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, emphasising that they reaffirmed their enduring friendship.
Reporter: Awais Kiyani