Foreign Minister urges Italy to resume issuing work visas for Sri Lankans

Colombo, January 31 (Daily Mirror) - During a meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath urged the Italian government to expedite the resumption of work visas for Sri Lankans, following their temporary suspension.

When the Minister inquired from the Ambassador regarding the suspension of work visas in Italy, the Ambassador pointed out that the Italian government is reviewing the granting of work visas to several countries and that this is a temporary measure.

The ambassador agreed to relay Sri Lanka’s request to relevant Italian authorities for the resumption of issuing work visas.

Meanwhile, the discussions also touched upon the recognition of Sri Lankan driving licenses in Italy, with both sides agreeing to expedite the signing of an agreement on this matter. 

Furthermore, the two countries plan to finalise several pending bilateral agreements, including one on migration and mobility cooperation, according to the Foreign Minister’s office.

Ambassador Francovigh highlighted the long-standing diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Italy, which date back to 1952. He noted that Italy is Sri Lanka’s fifth-largest export market and that over 200,000 Sri Lankans currently reside in Italy. Additionally, 38,709 Italian tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2024.