More Maldivians are seeking medical treatment in Sri Lanka, says President Waheed

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has said that more Maldivians are seeking medical treatment in Sri Lanka owing to visa restrictions imposed on Maldivians visiting India.

“A lot of our people are coming to Sri Lanka for medical treatment because there have been some visa restrictions in India,” President Waheed told Sri Lanka’s the Sunday Times in an interview, during his ongoing two-day visit to Sri Lanka.

President Waheed said that the relations between Maldives and India were strained after the Maldivian government terminated its agreement with Indian company GMR regarding the operation of Male’ International Airport.

He said that the relations are improving even though India continues to impose visa restrictions and also restrictions on the export of some construction materials to Maldives.

“The airport is now being managed by our own airport company and there are plans to develop it. We will soon be developing a second runway. We will find the investment facility to develop the airport the way we want,” President Waheed told the Sunday Times.