Colombo Invites Male' Investment; AKD Invites Muizzu To Visit Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on his first official state visit to the Maldives, reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties with its Indian Ocean neighbor, emphasizing cooperation in trade, investment, education, tourism, and technology.

Speaking after bilateral talks with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, President Dissanayake highlighted the historical and cultural bonds between the two nations, rooted in centuries of maritime exchange and shared heritage.

A key highlight of the discussions was Sri Lanka’s invitation to Maldivian investors to explore opportunities in state-of-the-art Technology Parks, with a focus on IT, AI, fisheries, agro-processing, tourism, and urban infrastructure. President Dissanayake also introduced Sri Lanka’s upcoming Single-Window Investment System, designed to streamline foreign investment and offer both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

The leaders acknowledged the contributions of Sri Lankan workers in the Maldives and Maldivian expatriates in Sri Lanka, pledging to enhance employment and education cooperation. President Dissanayake emphasized Sri Lanka’s role in supporting Maldivian students and professionals, and proposed further collaboration in academic and vocational training.

Tourism, a vital economic pillar for both nations, was another focal point. The two presidents discussed enhancing air connectivity and joint tourism initiatives, aiming to boost regional travel and leisure industries.

The talks also covered fisheries cooperation, youth empowerment, sports, and cultural exchange, with both nations recognizing the linguistic and historical ties between Sinhala and Divehi.

President Dissanayake also invited President Muizzu to visit Sri Lanka, expressing confidence that the relationship between the two nations would continue to flourish in the years ahead.