Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa has met with the Maldivian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, amidst the Ambassador’s strong criticism regarding alleged discrimination by Sri Lankan immigration officials against Maldivian travelers.

Although no major details were disclosed regarding this meeting held at the office of the SLPP—the party to which Namal, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, belongs—Namal addressed the relationship between the two countries via social media. In a post on “X,” Namal stated that Sri Lanka is a “second home” for a large number of Maldivians. He further highlighted the importance of holding constructive dialogues to strengthen the relationship between the two nations, noting that working together could elevate bilateral ties to new heights.

This meeting took place at a time when Ambassador Masood had heavily criticized the country’s immigration affairs in an interview with Sri Lanka’s ‘Daily News.’ The Ambassador stated that Maldivians are forced to wait in long queues from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM to obtain visas. However, pointing out that visas are obtained immediately without difficulty if processed through travel agents, the Ambassador alleged that this practice is likely conducted to provide financial benefits to the officials of that department.

Furthermore, the Ambassador warned that if this situation persists, the Maldivian government would be forced to alter its policy on issuing visas to Sri Lankan professionals working in various sectors in the Maldives. However, some parties on social media have condemned and criticized Masood’s remarks, arguing that speaking in such a manner while holding the position of an Ambassador violates diplomatic protocols.