The Maldivian High Commission in Sri Lanka has launched an identity card issuance service, enabling Maldivians residing in the country to obtain national identity cards more efficiently, the Department of National Registration (DNR) has announced.

According to the DNR, the new service allows for the printing of Maldivian identity cards in Sri Lanka, significantly reducing processing times and easing access for Maldivian citizens living abroad.

Sri Lanka becomes the second country to offer the overseas ID card issuance service, following the launch of the same facility in Malaysia. The Government has indicated that further expansion of passport and identity card services is planned in other countries with sizeable Maldivian communities, with preparations currently underway to introduce the service in the United Kingdom and India.