Maldives launches ID card service in Sri Lanka

The Maldives has officially launched the issuance of national identity cards in Colombo, Sri Lanka, expanding access to essential services for Maldivians living abroad.

The Department of National Registration (DNR) announced that the Maldivian High Commission in Sri Lanka will now print and issue ID cards locally. The service was first introduced in November last year, and Sri Lanka becomes the second country to offer Maldivian ID card services outside the country, following Malaysia.

The government is also preparing to launch the service in the United Kingdom, as part of its broader effort to decentralize public services and bring them closer to Maldivians residing overseas.

Sri Lanka is home to a significant number of Maldivians, and the new service aims to reduce the burden of traveling to Malé for basic documentation.

The government has also completed its nationwide rollout of citizenship card and passport services across all atolls, achieving the target three months ahead of schedule.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has emphasized decentralization as a key policy priority, pledging to ensure that citizens can access essential services without needing to travel to the capital.