Sri Lanka lifting suspension of on-arrival visa for Bangladesh nationals

Sri Lanka’s deputy minister for foreign affairs has said they are changing the decision that denied Bangladeshis getting visa on arrival.

Harsha de Silva told BBC Sinhala that it was not a decision of his government. The immigration chief took the decision on his own and now they are taking steps to cancel the order.
 
“We are disappointed about this decision. We have already talked with him and asked him to settle it talking with the foreign ministry,” he said.

On Sep 7, Sri Lanka stopped issuing on-arrival visa for Bangladeshis, drawing a tit-for-tat response from Dhaka.

The foreign ministry officials told bdnews24.com they had no idea about the decision as Colombo did not inform them formally. They only came to know about it when Bangladeshis got stuck at Colombo airport on Saturday.
 
Family members of the celebrated painter Zainul Abedin were held up at the airport.
 

Harsha de Silva

His son Mainul Abedin told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were stuck for a whole night at the Colombo airport on Saturday.

The foreign ministry summoned High Commissioner Yasoja Gunasekera during the Eid-ul-Azha holiday on Sunday, but she could not give a clear reason for the ‘surprise’ move. 

The high commissioner has taken time to clarify the decision.

The Bangladesh High Commission on Thursday, before the BBC story, told bdnews24.com that they were still awaiting response from Sri Lanka.

A foreign ministry official, however, later said they would definitely respond positively if Sri Lanka revised the decision. “They are our trusted friend.”

Former ambassador M Humayun Kabir was pleased with Colombo’s decision to revise the suspension. 

“That’s the right decision. We welcome this decision,” he told bdnews24.com.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, both members of SAARC, established diplomatic ties in 1972.They are also members of the BIMSTEC, IORA, and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

The two countries have signed many bilateral agreements on trade, economic and technical cooperation, shipping, and culture.

Official estimates suggest 10,000 Sri Lankan technicians and professionals are employed in garment, freight forwarding, banking, medicine, ICT manufacturing, logistics and health sectors in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh supports Sri Lanka on international forums such as the United Nations. Dhaka stood by Colombo during the recent devastating flood in the island nation.

Dhaka also provides the Sri Lankan defence staff with military training.