During a telephone conversation today, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has extended his congratulations to the President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Maithiripala Sirisena, following his assumption of office.
The President congratulated President Sirisena, and said that he was looking forward to working closely with the new Sri Lankan Government in expanding the enduring ties of friendship between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
President Yameen and President Sirisena spoke on the importance of further strengthening the relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, noting the close bilateral relations between the two countries.
The President of Sri Lanka said that the Maldives was one of the closest friends of Sri Lanka, and invited President Yameen to make an official visit at his earliest convenience. He also expressed his gratitude to President Yameen for the good wishes. President Sirisena assured President Yameen that he would give high priority to build on the existing relations between the two countries, during his tenure as President. Speaking in this regard, President Sirisena said that the good relations between the two countries must be maintained regardless of the administration in power.
President Sirisena also met with the Maldivian delegation in Sri Lanka, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dunya Maumoon, and Minister at the President’s Office, Hon. Mohamed Hussain Shareef. The ministers congratulated the new Sri Lankan President on behalf of the President and Government of Maldives. Discussions at the meeting were held on ways to further strengthen the existing relations between the two countries.
At the meeting, the Sri Lankan President noted that this year marked the 50th anniversary of the Maldives’ independence, as well as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka. He expressed his gratitude to the Maldivian delegation for being among the first foreign dignitaries to welcome the new Sri Lankan Government.