Minister Vijitha Herath requests Italian Ambassador to resolve Italian work visa issue
Agreement reached to expedite the signing of several agreements, including the recognition of Sri Lankan Driver’s License in Italy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, recently held a special discussion with the Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Damiano Francovigh.During the discussion, the Minister inquired about the current suspension of work visas for Italy. In response, the Ambassador stated that the Italian government is reviewing the issuance of work visas for several countries and assured that this is only a temporary measure.
The Minister requested that the issuance of work visas for Sri Lankans be resumed as soon as possible. The Ambassador agreed to inform the Italian government regarding this request.
“Minister Vijitha Herath meets Italian Ambassador”
At the request of Minister Vijitha Herath, the Italian Ambassador agreed to support the swift conclusion of the agreement on the recognition of Sri Lankan driver’s licenses in Italy. The Ambassador stated that the agreement, which has been delayed, is currently under review by the Italian Ministry of Transport and assured that all necessary support would be provided to finalize it soon.
Sri Lanka and Italy have signed several bilateral agreements, and political advisory-level discussions between the two countries’ foreign ministries have been concluded. These agreements are expected to be signed in the near future. Additionally, discussions on a bilateral agreement concerning migration and mobility have been completed, and both parties agreed to sign it soon.
Furthermore, the Italian Ambassador noted that diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Italy began in 1952, and Italy currently ranks as Sri Lanka’s fifth-largest export market. He highlighted that over 200,000 Sri Lankans reside in Italy and that approximately 38,709 Italian tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2024.
Minister Herath expressed his appreciation for the continuous support provided by the Italian government to Sri Lanka and sought further cooperation from the Ambassador to enhance economic, cultural, and tourism relations between the two nations.
Ajith Weerasuriya
