President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka, currently undertaking an official three-day state visit to the Maldives, held a series of high-level meetings with key members of the Maldivian Cabinet on the second day of his visit. These discussions, held across multiple ministries, aimed to expand bilateral cooperation between the two Indian Ocean neighbours across a broad spectrum of sectors, including defence, trade, technology, finance, and foreign affairs.
The day began with a meeting between President Dissanayake and Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdulla Khaleel, where both sides reaffirmed their governments’ commitment to strengthening the six-decade-long diplomatic relationship. President Dissanayake emphasized Sri Lanka’s readiness to broaden engagement with the Maldives in support of mutual development, regional stability, and people-to-people connections. Dr Khaleel echoed these sentiments, highlighting the Maldives’ continued interest in deepening diplomatic and economic partnerships with Sri Lanka.
Following the foreign affairs meeting, President Dissanayake engaged in a discussion with Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, focusing on trade facilitation, regional market integration, and investment opportunities. Both sides explored avenues to enhance bilateral trade, streamline regulatory frameworks, and encourage cross-border commercial ventures.
In a subsequent meeting with Minister of Defence, Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, the two leaders addressed matters of maritime security and regional defence cooperation. Discussions centred on enhancing joint capacity in safeguarding shared maritime borders, ensuring the safety of shipping routes, and coordinating on counter-narcotics and illegal fishing enforcement efforts, key concerns for both nations in the Indian Ocean.
President Dissanayake also met with Minister of Finance and Planning, Moosa Zameer, to explore financial and economic collaboration. The meeting covered topics such as fiscal policy cooperation, joint development projects, and sustainable financing mechanisms that could benefit both countries in navigating global economic shifts.
A meeting with Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, followed, where discussions touched on digital transformation, border security, cyber cooperation, and the use of emerging technologies to enhance national security and public administration.
The Sri Lankan President concluded his official bilateral engagements with a courtesy call by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim, symbolizing the strong parliamentary and institutional ties between the two nations.
These meetings come in the context of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, first formalized on 26 July 1965. As part of the visit, the two countries have also signed two key bilateral agreements, reflecting shared ambitions to strengthen institutional cooperation and align on regional priorities.
President Dissanayake’s visit underscores a renewed momentum in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, offering a forward-looking agenda that spans beyond traditional diplomacy into actionable development and strategic alignment.
His official visit will conclude on Wednesday, following a three-day itinerary of ceremonial events, policy meetings, and bilateral engagements that have reaffirmed the value of close cooperation between two of South Asia’s most closely linked island nations.
For international observers and visitors, this state visit highlights the Maldives’ active engagement in regional diplomacy and its openness to fostering sustainable partnerships in security, trade, and innovation, strengthening its position as a stable and globally connected destination in the Indian Ocean.