Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu left Sri Lanka this morning (06) after completing his State Visit. 

His visit from 03 -06 May marked the first to Sri Lanka since assuming office in 2023.

Prior to his departure, President Mohamed Muizzu attended the Maldives–Sri Lanka Business Forum in Colombo.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives reaffirmed their long-standing friendship and commitment to deeper economic cooperation at the Forum, with leaders from both countries highlighting shared resilience, mutual support and growing opportunities for partnership. 

The forum brought together policymakers and more than 400 business leaders and investors from both countries, reflecting growing momentum to expand trade, investment and long-term economic collaboration between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. 

Addressing those gathered, President Muizzu said the Maldives is at “a pivotal moment in its development journey”, describing the country as “a nation on the rise” building on resilience while looking towards “a future of development and prosperity”. 

Highlighting the close ties between the two countries, President Muizzu said Sri Lanka and the Maldives share deep historical, cultural and economic links, adding that their partnership is rooted in trust, mutual respect and continuous engagement. 

He underscored that development in the Maldives is “people-centred, technology-enabled and environmentally responsible”, while placing strong emphasis on the role of the private sector in shaping the country’s economic future. 

“We have placed private sector-led growth at the very heart of our national agenda,” he said, noting that his administration is implementing “an ambitious reform programme to facilitate business, incentivise investment and empower entrepreneurs”. 

President Muizzu also pointed to key reforms, including a modernised foreign investment law and revised investor entry requirements aimed at ensuring “clarity, predictability and transparency”, expressing confidence that these measures would strengthen investor confidence and support long-term growth. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya echoed the importance of strengthening bilateral ties, noting that Sri Lanka too “stands at a pivotal moment in its economic journey”. 

She said the country has navigated recent global and domestic challenges, including economic pressures and severe weather impacts in late 2025, through fiscal discipline, structural reforms, strengthened governance and strong international support. 

“We are steadily building a stronger and more stable economic foundation, with a clear and promising path ahead,” she said. 

The Prime Minister placed particular emphasis on the enduring friendship between the two nations, recalling the Maldives’ support to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.  

She expressed gratitude for the assistance extended by the Maldivian government, businesses and people, noting that such support reflected “the depth of friendship that goes beyond traditional cooperation”.

Highlighting economic opportunities, she said tourism remains a key sector for collaboration, noting Sri Lanka’s record tourist arrivals in 2025 despite adverse conditions and pointing to growing prospects in sustainable and high-end tourism, including medical tourism. 

She also observed that bilateral trade, valued at US$137 million in 2025, “remains far below its potential”, calling for expanded cooperation, particularly in food production and fisheries processing. 

Maldives Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, stressed the need to translate dialogue into concrete action, highlighting the Maldives’ ongoing economic transformation and openness to partnerships. 

He said the government is pursuing diversification beyond tourism, focusing on sectors such as logistics, digital services, renewable energy, fisheries and financial services, with the aim of positioning the Maldives as a strategic hub in the Indian Ocean. 

The Minister noted that recent reforms and prudent fiscal management have strengthened macroeconomic confidence, enabling major infrastructure developments, including expanded airport capacity and connectivity. 

He also highlighted global supply chain shifts, digital transformation and climate resilience as key areas for collaboration, stating that “the Maldives is open, ambitious and ready to partner”. 

All three leaders emphasised that the strong historical and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and the Maldives provide a solid foundation for future cooperation.

President Muizzu called for building “meaningful partnerships that shape our shared future”, while Minister Saeed stressed that “this forum is not about dialogue alone, it is about action”. 

Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, along with members of the Maldivian diplomatic delegation and the Sri Lanka–Maldives business community, attended the event. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka and the Maldives today signed seven memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering key sectors, including tourism, education, higher education, health, sports, youth development, archives, and defence, following the official state ceremony welcoming Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.

The agreements were announced at a joint press conference chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake after bilateral talks held at the Presidential Secretariat. 

President Dissanayake expressed gratitude to his Maldivian counterpart for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka and for the humanitarian assistance extended during the recent disaster periods.

Highlighting global climate change as a shared challenge, the Sri Lankan President pointed to rising sea levels and increasing global temperatures as pressing concerns for both nations. 

He also invited the Maldives to explore investment opportunities in information technology, artificial intelligence, fisheries, agricultural processing, tourism, real estate, and urban infrastructure.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu is scheduled to participate in a business forum tomorrow (May 5), which he expects will strengthen economic ties.

Marking the occasion, Sri Lanka has allocated land in Colombo for the Maldives High Commission office, while the Maldives has reciprocated by setting aside land for Sri Lanka’s High Commission. (Newswire)

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Visiting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu was welcomed with an official state ceremony, held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo today.

The Maldivian President, who arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday (03),  was welcomed by the President at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. 

President Mohamed Muizzu is on a state visit, marking his first visit to Sri Lanka since assuming office in 2023.

Visiting at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Maldivian President is expected to remain in Sri Lanka until May 06.

During the visit, he is set to hold bilateral discussions with President Dissanayake aimed at further strengthening long-standing ties and cooperation between the two nations.

Six memoranda of understanding are also expected to be signed to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Meanwhile, a special traffic plan is in place in Colombo from today (03) until May 06 in view of the visit. (Newswire)

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Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu will undertake a State Visit to Sri Lanka from May 3 to May 6, 2026, at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka.

According to a statement from the Maldives President’s Office, during the visit, President Muizzu is scheduled to meet senior Sri Lankan leaders and hold official talks with President Dissanayaka aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations. 

The two leaders will also witness the signing and exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering cooperation across multiple sectors.

President Muizzu will be accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, along with a high-level delegation of cabinet ministers and senior government officials.

The visit underscores the Maldives’ commitment to deepening ties with Sri Lanka and follows President Dissanayaka’s visit to Malé in July last year, which marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, the statement added. (Newswire)

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The government has announced that several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed during the upcoming state visit of the President of the Republic of Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, to Sri Lanka.

President Muizzu will visit Sri Lanka from May 3–5, 2026, at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the signing of MoUs aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors. These include:

• An MoU between the Maldives Ministry of Defence and National Service and Sri Lanka’s General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University to organize training programmes, staff exchanges, and joint research.
• An MoU between the Maldives Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to enhance teacher and school leader training.
• An MoU between the Maldives Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare and the University of Colombo on academic cooperation.
• An MoU between the Republic of Maldives and Sri Lanka to promote cooperation in tourism.
• An MoU between the National Archives of Maldives and Sri Lanka’s Department of National Archives to strengthen collaboration in archival work.
• An MoU between the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to advance youth and sports development.

The agreements reflect the commitment of both countries to deepen ties in defence, education, health, tourism, culture, and youth development, while fostering long‑term cooperation between institutions. (Newswire)

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