News
UAE declares visa amnesty; special consular services from the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has launched a two-month amnesty scheme, starting from 01 September 2024. This initiative provides an opportunity for individuals to correct their visa status or return to their home countries, without incurring fines or facing entry bans.
In support of this amnesty, the Sri Lankan Consulate General in Dubai has arranged special consular services, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, from Monday to Friday, in addition to the regular consular services conducted from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM daily. Similarly, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi has a special consular support programme running from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, from Monday to Friday.
According to the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP), the amnesty provisions extend to individuals born in the UAE without official documentation.
However, the amnesty does not apply to individuals who have entered the country illegally, those who have been previously deported or have deportation cases against them by the UAE or other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as those who absconded from their employer after 01 September 2024.
Individuals who wish to exit the country must apply for an exit permit, which is valid for 14 days from the date of issuance. If those who obtain exit permits do not depart within this period, previous fines and restrictions will be reinstated. Those who wish to remain in the country must regularize their visa status.
For further assistance, Sri Lankan nationals in the UAE are encouraged to visit the Consulate General in Dubai during the designated hours or contact the Consulate General for more information via the following channels:
Email: consular.dubai@mfa.gov.lk
Telephone: +971 4 611 55 00 or +971 4 611 55 55
The Consulate General also requests that relatives of Sri Lankans living in the United Arab Emirates without legal residency permits to inform them of the opportunity given and make use of this time period to rectify their residency status or return to Sri Lanka under the amnesty granted.
The Consulate General remains committed to ensuring the welfare of all Sri Lankans in Dubai and Northern Emirates and will continue to provide necessary support and services during this amnesty period.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
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