Sri Lanka Eyes Boat Manufacturing Opportunities With Maldives

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reaffirmed the deep and longstanding bonds between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, highlighting the solidarity shown by the Maldivian Government and people following Sri Lanka’s recent crisis.

Addressing the occasion, President Dissanayake expressed his sincere gratitude to Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the Government of Maldives and its people for their generosity and support. He said bilateral discussions held with President Muizzu and the two delegations reviewed the current status of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

Special attention was paid to global climate change, which the President described as a shared threat and challenge. He noted the importance of Sri Lanka and the Maldives acting together in international forums to seek solutions, and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s readiness to remain a trusted partner as the Maldives continues its fight against rising sea levels and global warming.

President Dissanayake said the two sides exchanged views on strengthening and diversifying cooperation across multiple sectors for the mutual benefit of their peoples.

Memoranda of Understanding were signed covering tourism; education and higher education; health; sports and youth development; archiving; and defence.

Recognising Sri Lanka as an important economic partner in the region, the President said there was a shared interest in further expanding this partnership. He invited Maldivian businesses to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, particularly in information technology and artificial intelligence, fisheries, agriculture, tourism and leisure, port-related services, and urban infrastructure.

The President also thanked President Muizzu for proposals aimed at enhancing cooperation in the fisheries sector and conveyed Sri Lanka’s interest in exploring additional possibilities in boat manufacturing, an area identified as having significant mutual benefit.

Highlighting the close links in tourism, President Dissanayake said the success of the Maldivian tourism industry benefits Sri Lanka, with many travellers choosing both countries as dual destinations. He noted that several Sri Lankan companies have already invested in Maldives tourism and said further exploration of shared opportunities would be mutually rewarding.

On regional security and stability, the President said both countries often face common pressures and stressed the need for coordinated action to prevent threats from affecting their nations and maritime boundaries.

Marking the special occasion, President Dissanayake announced that Sri Lanka has allocated land in Colombo for the Maldives High Commission, while the Maldives has reciprocated by allocating land in Malé for the Sri Lanka High Commission. He reaffirmed that Sri Lanka remains a welcoming second home for all positive and constructive engagement.