The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Rome with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Motor Traffic Department in Italy and the Sri Lanka Motor Traffic authorities renewed the bilateral agreement for mutual recognition of driving licences between Italy and Sri Lanka.
The Driving Licence Agreement facilitates for the conversion of valid driving licences of those who have obtained permanent residency in the respective countries. This is a mechanism which the Sri Lankan community in Italy was eagerly awaiting, given the advantage it would have for their job prospects and the possibility of future self-employment, a government official said.
So far over 11,000 Sri Lankans have benefited from this Agreement.
The exchange of Notes took place on Wednesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, between Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Italy, Daya Pelpola and Principal Director for the Countries of Asia and Oceania, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy, Ugo Astuto. The Agreement will come into force in the first quarter of next year.