Seven Agreements Seal New Era in Sri Lanka-Maldives Ties

COLOMBO (News 1st); Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering multiple sectors were exchanged between Sri Lanka and the Maldives today (04) at the President’s Office in Colombo, in the presence of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Marking a new chapter in Sri Lanka-Maldives relations, the agreements focus on strengthening cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly, an MoU on cooperation in the tourism sector between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

An MoU on archiving cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was also exchanged by Minister Iruthisham Adam and Minister Vijitha Herath.

A further MoU on the training and professional development of teachers and school leaders was signed between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka, and was exchanged by Minister Iruthisham Adam and Minister Vijitha Herath.

An MoU on cooperation in sports and youth development between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

An MoU on defence cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Republic of Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Masood Imad and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyyakontha.

Another MoU was exchanged between the Ministry of Defence and National Services of the Maldives and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka. This agreement was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner Masood Imad and Vice Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

In addition, an MoU on academic cooperation between the University of Colombo and the Ministry of Health, Family and Social Welfare of the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner Masood Imad and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Senior Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The official visit of Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu takes place at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with the aim of further strengthening economic, cultural and social relations between the two countries and enhancing their multifaceted partnership.