The Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, Hon. Prof. G. L. Peiris has paid a courtesy call on the President of Maldives, His Excellency Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The meeting was held this afternoon at the hotel in which the Maldivian President is residing at during his State Visit to Sri Lanka.
President Yameen and External Affairs Minister Peiris exchanged views on charting the way forward in further enhancing bilateral ties between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, during President Yameen’s tenure of office. Highlighting the historical good neighbourly ties and mutual respect between the two countries, deliberations focused on advancing development cooperation and commercial interactions in the time ahead.
Minister Peiris congratulated President Yameen on his elections triumph, and welcomed the prevalent peace and stability in the country since the change in leadership. He noted that Sri Lanka had personally experienced the transformation in economic fortunes associated with prolonged stability and domestic peace and harmony. He elaborated that, as such, the Sri Lankan Government had every confidence that President Yameen’s aspirations for accelerated economic growth would materialize, particularly through a manifold increase in foreign investment targeted at the ambitious mega projects earmarked under the new administration’s manifesto.
President Yameen commended President Rajapaksa for his leadership and insight in bringing about a revolutionary change in the country’s socioeconomic development. He assured Sri Lanka of the Maldives’ continued steadfast support to Sri Lanka at international and regional forums of common membership.
President Yameen noted the importance of forging stronger regional ties in improving collective bargaining in the international arena, and shared his vision of a prosperous South Asia. He also highlighted the need to increase bilateral cooperation in selected areas of development, including tourism, trade and fisheries.
Minister G. L. Peiris spoke on the tremendous potential for increased trade and investment, which he noted would be of tremendous benefit to both countries. He also assured the Maldivian President of Sri Lanka’s commitment to support the Maldives in key areas of development, including education and health.
President Yameen briefed the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister on the key objectives of his administration’s foreign policy and requested for Sri Lankan government assistance in his quest to improve consular services for the large Maldivian community residing in Sri Lanka.
President Yameen was accompanied at the call by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dunya Maumoon, Minister at the President’s Office, Hon. Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor, Maldivian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, His Excellency Hussain Shihab, Foreign Secretary, Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed and Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Farzana Zahir.
Minister Peiris was joined at the call by the Senior Minister of Urban Affairs and Minister in Attendance for President Yameen’s State Visit, Hon. A. H. M. Fowzie, Sri Lankan High Commissioner in the Maldives, His Excellency Dixon Dela, and Foreign Secretary, Ms Kshenuka Seneviratne.
