President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has begun a State Visit to Sri Lanka, with discussions expected to focus on diplomatic ties and areas of cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport, where they were received by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya. A welcome ceremony was held at the airport, including a cultural performance, after which the President signed the official guest book.
The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka and will continue from 3 to 6 May 2026.
As part of the visit, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, paid a courtesy call on President Muizzu. The meeting centred on the longstanding relationship between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, including six decades of formal diplomatic relations.
The discussions also covered potential areas for further cooperation, including environmental conservation, tourism and trade. Both sides noted the importance of continued engagement between the two countries, which share close people-to-people, economic and regional ties.
The State Visit comes at a time when the Maldives and Sri Lanka continue to maintain links across travel, education, healthcare, commerce and labour mobility. For the Maldives, the visit also carries relevance for regional diplomacy and economic cooperation, particularly in sectors where both countries have overlapping interests.
