The Maldivian High Commission in Sri Lanka has announced that the Department of Immigration and Emigration will waive visa-related fees for travellers whose departures were disrupted by the cyclone.
Individuals who attempted to leave on Friday but were grounded due to weather conditions will receive visa extensions without charges or penalties for overstaying. Short-term tourist, business, and residence visas will be extended for seven days, and tourist visa renewals are available via an online portal. Maldivians requiring assistance have been urged to contact the High Commission through its hotline or official email.
Air travel has been severely affected due to the adverse weather and the declaration of a state of emergency in Sri Lanka, resulting in widespread disruption to transit flights between the two countries. This has left a large number of Maldivians stranded at airports. The Maldivian High Commission in Sri Lanka has also urged Maldivians stranded at Sri Lankan airports to contact the High Commission via its hotline and provide relevant information.
Additionally, Sri Lanka has also announced special visa concessions for foreign nationals unable to leave the country due to severe rains and widespread flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Torrential rains have swept across the island nation since last week, triggering floods and landslides that have claimed at least 153 lives and left 191 people missing, as of 6 p.m. on 29 November, according to the country’s Disaster Management Centre.
The Maldivian government stated it will provide USD 50,000 (approximately MVR 771,000) in financial assistance and donate 25,000 cases of canned tuna to Sri Lanka in response to the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The government said the relief package is being extended on behalf of the Maldivian people as a show of solidarity with its close neighbour. Officials described the contribution as a modest but meaningful effort to support Sri Lanka’s ongoing emergency response and to reaffirm the longstanding ties between the two nations.
