The government has taken a decisive step to resolve the long-standing difficulties faced by Sri Lankan expatriates in Italy regarding driving license conversions. On 24 November the Cabinet of Ministers officially approved a proposal to renew the bilateral agreement with Italian authorities, signaling an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty for the diaspora.
Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake confirmed the development during the weekly media briefing, stating that the approved proposal will be immediately forwarded to the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Rome.
The government aims to sign a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Italian Ministry of Transport within the next two months. This agreement is expected to restore the facility that allows holders of valid Sri Lankan driving licenses to convert them into Italian licenses without sitting for fresh exams.
Sri Lankans living in Italy — one of the countries with a high number of Sri Lankan migrants — have been facing issues related to driving licences for nearly three years.
Previously, Sri Lankans who had obtained a driving licence in Sri Lanka and later gained permanent residency in Italy were able to convert their Sri Lankan licence into a valid Italian one.
This was made possible under a bilateral agreement between the Sri Lankan and Italian governments.
However, this facility is no longer available to Sri Lankans residing in Italy.
According to an agreement signed in 2011 between the two governments, Sri Lankans who had secured a Sri Lankan driving licence before obtaining permanent residency in Italy were eligible to have their licences converted into Italian licences.
Under this agreement — which was periodically renewed by both governments — eligible Sri Lankans did not need to obtain a new Italian driving licence.
The official website of the Government Information Department, reporting on the renewal of this agreement in 2016, stated that around 11,000 Sri Lankan workers were benefiting from the arrangement each year. According to the official website of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Italy, individuals who hold a valid Sri Lankan driving licence, can prove permanent residency in Italy, and have not exceeded four years since obtaining permanent residency, are eligible to apply for the licence conversion.
