Recent figures released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) show a consistent year-on-year increase in the number of Maldivians travelling to Sri Lanka.

According to the data, the Maldives currently ranks as Sri Lanka’s 16th largest source market for tourism. In the previous year, 37,165 Maldivians visited Sri Lanka an increase of 10,057 compared to the year before.

The upward trend continued in 2024, with Maldivian arrivals rising to 47,222, up from 37,328 recorded in the preceding year.

The statistics indicate that leisure and holiday travel remains the primary reason Maldivians visit Sri Lanka.

Other common purposes include visiting friends and relatives, seeking medical treatment, and conducting business.

Sri Lanka was once home to the largest Maldivian expatriate community.

However, the number of Maldivians residing in the country has declined significantly since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Prior to the attacks, more than 15,000 Maldivians were living in Sri Lanka, but current estimates suggest the figure has fallen to fewer than 2,000.

The decline in the Maldivian expatriate population has been attributed to stricter visa policies introduced in the aftermath of the bombings, as well as the economic challenges faced by Sri Lanka in recent years.