The Sri Lankan authorities have decided to extend for 30 days all categories of visas held in Sri Lanka from March 14 to April 12.
Sri Lanka is the most frequent destination for Maldivians going abroad for medical treatment and vacation. There are currently about 13,000 Maldivians living in Sri Lanka for education and work.
Due to the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic, the Sri Lankan government announced on March 15 that it will indefinitely suspend the issuance of visas on arrival to all countries, including the Maldives.
Anyone who has been granted a 30-day extension is kindly requested to pay the required fee and have their passport stamped at the Visa Office of the Sri Lankan Immigration Department on April 8 or 9.
The extension is intended to address difficulties caused by the cancellation of numerous international flights.
Also, any individual arriving in Sri Lanka from Iran, South Korea and any European country between 1-15 March is urged to register at the nearest police station or call 119.
Areas covered by the Maldives travel ban
– Mainland China: Effective February 4.
– Iran: Effective 26 February.
– Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongnam-do, South Korea: Effective March 3.
– Italy: Effective March 8.
– Bangladesh: Effective from March 10 to March 24.
– Spain: Effective March 15.
– France Ile-de-France and Grand East: effective March 15.
– German states of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg: Effective March 15.
– Malaysia: Effective March 17.
– United Kingdom: Effective March 19.
In addition to the above, persons arriving from other countries, including India and other European countries, may be subject to assessment on a case-by-case basis.
Travelers from the above countries are allowed to enter the Maldives if they have transited for more than 14 days in countries not subject to the ban.
Still, health experts and travel advisors are strongly advising people not to travel between countries at this time, including returning to their home country. It is still possible for a person to contract the disease during travel, in the country of origin of the trip, or even at the airport, because contact with other people will be higher.
Given the incubation period of the disease, the person could bring the virus to the destination without knowing it. If that happens, many vulnerable groups could be exposed to the virus and re-spread to the region.
Therefore, the safest decision is to maintain cleanliness, maintain immunity, and follow the guidelines issued by WHO and HPA until the spread of the new coronavirus is contained globally.
The World Health Organization has declared the spread of COVID-19 a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected more than 220,800 people worldwide and claimed the lives of more than 8,980. However, of those infected, more than 85,770 have recovered.
There are currently 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Maldives, including a tourist couple on a liveaboard cruise ship, 2 cases at Anantara Dhigu, 5 foreign nationals at Kuredu Island Resort, and Sandysbah. Two foreign nationals each from Tara and Kuramathi. No locals have yet tested positive for the virus.
