President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is expected to visit Sri Lanka next month, with early discussions indicating a renewed focus on fisheries cooperation and trade linkages between the two countries.
According to Sri Lankan media outlet Daily Mirror, preparatory talks are already underway. A recent meeting at the parliamentary complex in Colombo brought together Ramalingam Chandrasekar and the Maldivian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka to explore areas of collaboration ahead of the visit.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources stated that discussions centred on expanding cooperation in the fisheries sector, particularly through knowledge sharing and joint value creation. One area under consideration is the development of new fish products by combining the Maldives’ supply of fresh fish with Sri Lanka’s established processing and canning capacity.
The talks also examined the potential for processing Maldivian fish in Sri Lanka and producing value-added products for export back to the Maldives. This reflects a shift towards deeper integration across the fisheries value chain rather than simple trade in raw or finished goods.
Another issue raised during discussions was the current export route for certain Sri Lankan fish products to the Maldives. Some goods labelled as Sri Lankan are understood to be shipped indirectly through third-party markets such as Dubai. Both sides explored the possibility of establishing direct supply channels to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
The upcoming visit is expected to formalise these discussions and could signal a more structured approach to fisheries cooperation between the two countries.
