In a joint press appearance at the President’s Office on Monday, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka reiterated their commitment to strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two Indian Ocean neighbours. The statements followed official talks between the two leaders during President Dissanayake’s first state visit to the Maldives.
President Muizzu began by welcoming his Sri Lankan counterpart and acknowledged the shared history and geographical proximity of both nations. He described the Maldives and Sri Lanka as “kindred nations” bound by the ocean, history, and cultural ties, and noted that the timing of the visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He recalled that Sri Lanka was among the first nations with which the Maldives formalised diplomatic ties following independence in July 1965.
Speaking on the outcome of their discussions, President Muizzu highlighted key areas of collaboration explored during the meeting. These included trade, defence, vocational training, education, youth development, sports, environmental sustainability, fisheries, and agriculture. He said the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance and the Memorandum of Understanding on diplomatic training signed earlier in the day were evidence of both countries’ commitment to deepening their cooperation.
He also recognised the role of Sri Lankan educators in shaping the Maldivian education sector and spoke about the shared interest in enhancing capacity-building programmes and knowledge exchanges. President Muizzu welcomed Sri Lanka’s recent decision to grant one-year medical and spouse visas to Maldivians residing in Sri Lanka and thanked the country for hosting a large Maldivian community.
On maritime cooperation, the President pointed to the shared economic dependence on the Indian Ocean, particularly in fisheries. He said both nations had agreed to work more closely on tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and to exchange expertise on sustainable practices. Defence and maritime security also featured in the discussion, with the Maldives expressing appreciation for Sri Lanka’s ongoing support through training and joint exercises.
Addressing climate issues, President Muizzu said both countries recognised the urgency of climate change and had exchanged views on their respective efforts to promote sustainability and resilience through international collaboration.
In his remarks, President Dissanayake expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation, and echoed President Muizzu’s emphasis on the shared historical and cultural roots of the two nations. He described the visit as one that injected renewed energy into bilateral ties and underscored the symbolic importance of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
President Dissanayake outlined several areas where Sri Lanka is seeking to expand cooperation with the Maldives, particularly in trade and investment. He invited Maldivian investors to explore opportunities in Sri Lanka, highlighting new incentive schemes, a developing single-window system, and product-specific industrial zones such as technology parks. Key sectors identified for investment included information technology and artificial intelligence, fisheries and agro-processing, tourism, real estate, and urban infrastructure.
He also emphasised the potential for tourism collaboration and enhanced air connectivity between the two countries. Both leaders agreed on the importance of youth empowerment and discussed opportunities to expand cooperation in sports and vocational training.
On fisheries, President Dissanayake proposed more collaborative efforts in sustainable and innovative fishing practices and raised the issue of transit passage for Sri Lankan fishing vessels seeking access to the Arabian Sea.
He also highlighted Sri Lanka’s “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, aimed at integrating social, environmental, and ethical development goals. In turn, he commended the Maldives’ waste management initiatives and expressed hope for greater collaboration on climate adaptation and renewable energy, including a proposed partnership in the renewable energy sector. Sri Lanka is currently aiming to meet 70 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.
Defence and counter-terrorism cooperation were also addressed, as well as the historical linguistic and cultural connections between the two countries. The Sri Lankan President praised the contribution of Maldivian expatriates to Sri Lanka and extended appreciation for the employment of Sri Lankans in the Maldives.
The press event concluded with President Dissanayake formally inviting President Muizzu to visit Sri Lanka. He also announced plans to address a business forum and engage with the Sri Lankan community in the Maldives during his visit.
Both leaders closed their statements by expressing confidence that the friendship between the Maldives and Sri Lanka would continue to grow stronger, underpinned by mutual respect, shared challenges, and common aspirations.
