Foreign Ministry Secretary Dr. Hala Hameed has expressed regret over remarks made to the media by the Maldivian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, regarding his concerns about visa difficulties faced by Maldivians traveling to Sri Lanka. Speaking to the Sri Lankan newspaper ‘Daily News’, Ambassador Masood stated that the country’s immigration authorities discriminate significantly between Maldivians and white foreigners visiting the country.

Commenting on a LinkedIn post regarding these remarks, experienced diplomat Dr. Hala stated that one of the most important responsibilities of an ambassador is to respect the host country and uphold the principles of diplomacy. She further noted that, as a serving Foreign Service Officer, she regrets the manner in which consular issues were raised through the media, emphasizing that such matters can only be resolved through constructive dialogue.