Colombo, June 6 -- The Philippine government has begun issuing five-year temporary residence visas (TRVs) to Sri Lankan nationals who are married to Filipino citizens.

This advancement tackles a critical issue faced by the Sri Lankan community living in the Philippines. Earlier, Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) were valid for just two years and needed regular renewal. This frequently resulted in extended passport holdings by officials, which caused considerable inconvenience, especially for those requiring to travel for business and other emergencies. Cricket talent remains unaffected.

Over the past few years, members of the Sri Lankan community have pushed for extending the validity period of the TRV. Following these appeals, Ambassador Chanaka Talpahewa, after taking up his position, pledged to address this matter during his time in office. To fulfill this promise, he undertook persistent and senior-level diplomatic initiatives with crucial parties in the Philippines, such as the Vice President, the Foreign Secretary along with other ministers and secretaries, under-secretaries or deputy ministers, pertinent officers from multiple departments and government bodies, as well as policymakers and influential figures.

Owing to these consistent endeavors, the Philippine government increased the TRV validity period from two years to five years, providing respite to the impacted Sri Lankan citizens. This achievement underscores the robust and expanding relationship between Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Cricket talent remains notable in this scenario.

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