Your Excellency President Anura Kumara Disanayaka,
Distinguished Members of both delegations,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
and a very good morning.
It is a great honour to be in Colombo, a city that reflects the deep history, resilience, and friendship that bind our two nations.
I extend my sincere gratitude to President Disanayaka, the Government, and people of Sri Lanka for the warm hospitality extended to my delegation, my wife, and myself.
This visit marks not only a reaffirmation of our close neighbourly ties, but also the beginning of a renewed and forward-looking partnership between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
President Disanayaka and I have concluded highly productive discussions covering a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
We agreed to elevate our partnership across key sectors, including trade and investment, health, defence and security, education, youth and sports development, fisheries, environment, and social development.
Today, we concluded several important agreements that will strengthen cooperation in areas such as higher education and training, archiving cooperation, health, defence, youth and sports development and tourism.
Our focus now is clear: delivery and implementation, ensuring that these agreements translate into tangible benefits for our people.
Economic cooperation was a central pillar of our discussions today.
I expressed appreciation for the significant contributions of Sri Lankans to the development of the Maldives, and equally, the valued presence of the Maldivian community here in Sri Lanka.
Looking ahead, we are committed to:
- Expanding trade and investment flows
- Creating a more enabling and investor-friendly environment
- Unlocking new business opportunities
Tomorrow Maldives–Sri Lanka Business Forum will serve as a key platform to connect businesses, investors, and innovators from both countries.
We are also exploring concrete initiatives, including:
- The potential establishment of a Bank of Maldives presence here in Sri Lanka
- Introducing premium Maldivian fisheries products to the Sri Lankan market
At the same time, I underscored the importance of addressing the trade imbalance, ensuring that our economic relationship becomes more balanced, equitable, and mutually beneficial.
As education and youth empowerment remain at the heart of our national priorities.
We agreed to strengthen collaboration in:
- Higher education and vocational training
- Skills development for future industries
- Institutional partnerships and knowledge exchange
Our goal is clear: to equip our young people with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
As island nations, our future is inseparable from the Indian Ocean.
We reaffirmed our shared commitment to:
- Sustainable fisheries management
- Protecting marine resources
- Strengthening maritime security cooperation
The Maldives deeply values Sri Lanka’s continued support through joint exercises, training, and capacity-building.
Beyond policy and economics, our relationship is rooted in people, in culture, and in shared heritage.
We agreed to expand cooperation through:
- Cultural exchanges
- Academic collaboration
- Social development initiatives
These connections will continue to serve as the foundation of our enduring friendship.
We also held important discussions on global issues, particularly climate change, which remains an existential threat to both our nations.
Therefore, we reaffirmed our commitment to:
- Stronger international advocacy
- Joint environmental initiatives
- Collective action for climate resilience
Excellencies,
Today marks the beginning of a new and dynamic chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations.
The Maldives remains steadfast in its commitment to:
- Deepening this partnership
- Advancing regional cooperation
- Promoting peace, stability, and shared prosperity
Together, we will continue to build a partnership that delivers real results for our people and contribute meaningfully to the Indian Ocean region.
Thank you.