New travel policy: Sri Lanka cancels on-arrival visa for Pakistan
The Sri Lankan government has cancelled the on-arrival visa facility for Pakistan, citing security reasons as well as an increase in the number of asylum seekers from the country.
The official spokesperson for the foreign ministry confirmed to The Express Tribune on Friday that Colombo had withdrawn the on-arrival visa facilities for Pakistani citizens. The decision, she said, was communicated to Pakistan earlier this month.
Sri Lanka, with whom Pakistan enjoys close ties, was among the few countries which offer on-arrival visa facilities to Pakistani nationals.
A Foreign Office official, who asked to remain anonymous, said the major reason behind the Sri Lankan decision was security concerns and also the rising number of asylum seekers from Pakistan.
According to Sri Lankan media reports, Sri Lankan authorities recently picked up about 1,500 Pakistanis, who were registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). These people, who came to the island nation for asylum, would be deported because of their alleged involvement in anti-state activities in India and Pakistan, reports added.
The FO also confirmed that there are about 75 families under a 2005 agreement between UNHCR and the Sri Lankan government.
But it said the UNHCR and Sri Lankan government was not sharing any information about Pakistani asylum seekers with the Pakistani High Commission in Colombo because of the ‘principle of confidentiality and privacy’ clause applied by the UN commission for refugees.
Pakistani authorities will soon issue new travel guidelines for its nationals intending to travel to Sri Lanka.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2014.
COMMENTS (39)
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@SAL: LOL, who says, pakistanis do not have a good sense of humor.
@Sri Lankan Friend: There are Afghans and Indians who obtained fake/stolen Pakistani passports and entered Sri Lanka and started illegal activities there thus brought bad name for Pakistan.
@arijit sharma "USA used Pakistan, Srilanka used Pakistan and China is using us"
Only one reason behind such policy and this is India's hostility and unaccepting behaviour towards Pakistan ......... We only accept aid and "bheek" of world powers to neutralize you. We will be happy and stop being used when you really accept us.
@T: did you actually read the link you quoted? Indian Express is quoting a Pakistani newspaper. @Javed:
Prabhakaran was not an Indian tout as you claim though in early 1980s India did support LTTE. It withdrew that support soon after and in 1987 at the request of Sri Lankan government it sent a peace keeping force to Jaffna which resulted in angry LTTE activists killing Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. To say that it was Pakistan that finished LTTE is laughable. Pakistan does not even have the appetite to address terrorists in Pakistan on a consistent basis. Many people dispwn the war against terror and call it an American war and many others point to the fact that the war has not been won in 7 years so muzakkarat is he onky option. The stamina that Sri Lanka showed for 30 years is absent in Pakistan which wants quick fix.
Undoubtedly there were many human rights violations by the Sri Lankan army which are indeed a black mark on them but to claim that it was Pakistan that was responsible for Sri Lanka's victory is beyond absurd.
Hi fellows, Pakistan is strong enough to survive its hardest time of the history, we are producing very good weapons from bullet to Jet fighters, Pqkistan helped sirilankans or not their high command knows well. This ristriction is only imposed due to the on going tensions between relegious groups and terrorists can come to make situation worst. So its good restriction or another country can go in turmoil again.
@T: Read your link again. Indian Express quoted from The News, a Pakistani newspaper. Stop misguiding people.
@Bilal Khan: It is surprise news to me. Really!
@pamela: have you forgotten the civil war in Srilanka which was initiated by Indian tout Pabhakran and ended by Pakistani forces.
Bitter truth is Sri Lankans like Pakistan because Pakistan dislike India. Unfortunately Pakistan is falling at the hands of muslim extremists after toppling its last super leader Gen. Musharaf. I know pakistanis are regretting about it now. We sri lankans from recent past suffer from muslim extremist groups funded by Saudi but channel through fake refugees.especially from Pakistan. We are true friends, please get a non-extremist strong leader and restore its past pride.
Supporting US war since 2001, our image is only deteriorating and will continue to be, unless we realize our enemies and identify our priorities. forget china take lesson from india. when asked for support they said upfront no to US back in 2001, paid US in the same coin after its diplomat episode earlier this year, and still a far better strategic ally for them. .......Had we not supported US then i bet we would have been 100 times better than now ...
The fault is entirely ours. Sri Lanka wants to help us but there are so many Pakistanis who abuse the generosity of Sri Lanka and do not want to come back to Pakistan. What can Sri Lanka do? It is a progressive, peaceful and educated country unlike the illiterate, war-torn and non-progressive nation we live in.
We have to look at our problem and try to solve them ourself, instead of blaming other governments for our problems.
@Mendez: Are you serious my Sri Lankan friend? Have a look at the article below and this is from the indianexpress, not a Pakistani source:
http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/pak-played-key-role-in-lankas-victory-over-tamil-tigers/467482/
I have been to alot of places in Sri Lanka as a tourist on my Pakistani passport and love it just like Pakistan but there is a need to realize that we cannot live in isolation. Ofcourse, Pakistan is in a bad situation at the moment but that does not mean that we wipe out history or that the situation will stay the same! We will overcome this inshAllah and no one has a crystal ball to predict what the future might hold. So, I suggest we don't burn bridges and hope that the Pakistani government tries to improve the situation with their Lankan counterparts.
I would say. It is a good move of siri lanka. Every country has right to protect their citizens and economy. Lets support the operation so that we can get rid out of these gumra people (talbn) who are trying to cut pak from rest of the world. I think pak should seek help from international comnunity to help in operation so that ee can remove these people from our land.
@Mendez: You know nothing about Pakistan high value arms production and its export. Here is an eye opener.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/462957/pakistan-finalising-arrangements-to-target-global-arms-market/
http://defence.pk/threads/pakistans-defense-industry-going-high-tech.88252/
Well agree to this...
We should watch ourselves first before blaming them (Sri Lankans). Why would one take asylum in a country, eat their food, live on their soil and than create problems there by indulging in anti-state acts.
I remember a story here. There was a scorpion who wanted to cross a river. A turtle came by and offered help. The scorpion sat on his back and turtle helped him cross the river. In the middle, scorpion starting biting him on his shell, and obviously, the turtle didnt feel, but he did ask what was he doing. He said, I am sorry, but this is my nature to bite. Turtle said, well fine, if your nature is to bite, then my nature is to dive. He dipped into the river eventually scorpion died.
Now you may understand what I just said.
@Fakhar: What high tech equipment are you talking about ? Pakistan has no tech ..all it does produce is home grown crude arms..it has no money to buy arms as it's now reduced to the stage of surviving on IMF loans which prohibits using aid money to buy weapons.
Pakistan has not contributed anything to Sri Lanka ... Rather we have invested in your country which. No one else is doing.
Now a country like sirilanka is showing us eyes. Good job PMLN. Had it been tiger imran khan we would have some self respect left
I know of one Sri Lankan professional applying at the Dubai consulate who was denied visa because, the visa officer said 'you cant have friends in Pakistan'
@ajeet: Sri Lanka did this to India two years back. They have stopped issuing Indians Visa on arrival facility much earlier. Sri Lanka is a small country, cannot sustain illegal immigrants in thousands from South India and Pakistan. Did the right Thing.
This is not peculiar to Pakistan. Has withdrawn this service to Indians earlier. Only Singapore and Maldives have this Visa on arrival facility. Cheers.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-01-02/news/305875511visa-fee-visa-on-arrival-facility-passport-holders
There is no need to get sentimental about it. They have all the right to decide what is good for their country. Same way we must see how we can improve ourselves. Let get rid of these terrorists & thugs, these are the maniacs keeping us hostage. We are capable of many good things, trust me we can do it. Because of our own faults & wrong policies Indians are getting advantage but this scenario won't stay for long. I am not saying our running governments are the people at helm of affairs are good & unique, they are corrupt to the core but where you don't find he corrupts?
Srilanka has shown how a country should look after their interest. It is no fault of Lankans, it is the behavior and attitude of our people which has led to this restriction . Moreover which country will allow trouble makers and sick( polio/etc) to enter their country? Only Pakistan . In the name of Jihad our people have provided shelter to all sorts of criminals and killers . Now we have another brand of angels who will put us right.
you too Brutus!?
No surprise here; it was just a matter of time! Does reflect the state we are in.
Visa policy normally is reciprocal basis between two countries in addition to security concerns.Pakistan does not offer visa on arrival for business to Sri Lankans. Why should Pakistanis expect from Sri Lanka when they don't offer it to them?
@Fakhar: lol live in your dream world.
Pakistan and Afghanistan should merge to become one country.then we can teach lesson to endia and srilanka.
@Bilal Khan: "Allah will punish them" +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sir will Allah also punish those who are misusing the visa on arrival?
My Pakistan Friends,
No argument is that Pakistan is a true friend of Sri Lanka. You helped us during the war. In recent times people appearing to be Pakistani asylum seekers has become a real issue in Sri Lanka.
Some people come in tourist visas and engage in activities related to religious conversion. I am not saying priests cannot come to Sri Lanka for religious activities but there is an appropriate visa category.
I hope two governments will collaborate and solve the issue.
@Bilal Khan: " ... Every one wants help from Pakistan to solve issues. once after solving the issues throwing us away. ... "
USA used you, Sri Lanka used you. China is using you.
Pakistan has truly achieved strategic depth.
Good move by Sr iLanka. They always take care of the interest of their citizens first something India and our media should learn. Pakistan is known to spread terror in every part of the world, they want to nip it in the bud.
Every one wants help from Pakistan to solve issues. once after solving the issues throwing us away. This is not good for those who are taking help.
Allah will punish them.
We gave a lot of support to Sri Lanka in their civil war. Without our high-tech equipment and training they would have not won. So this is how they repay us.
This was a very misguided policy to start with. It has only been rectified for the safety of Sri Lanka. No disrespect intended.