Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday, as both nations seek to enhance cooperation in vital sectors.
During the meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat, Khaleel expressed the Maldives’ keen interest “to explore new avenues to collaborate further to strengthen the close bonds of friendship between the two countries,” according to the Foreign Ministry.
He also conveyed appreciation to the government and people of Sri Lanka for their continued support and assistance in the Maldives’ development efforts. Khaleel was accompanied at the meeting by Maldivian Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya, High Commissioner Masood Imad, and Additional Secretary Aminath Abdulla Didi.
On Thursday, Khaleel met Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, where he expressed gratitude for “Sri Lanka’s unwavering support for the Maldives’ development and progress over the decades, especially in the field of education and human resource development, and hosting a large community of Maldivians in Sri Lanka.”
Amarasuriya reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to “work together to strengthen the existing close cooperation” between the two nations, a statement from the Foreign Ministry said.
Khaleel’s visit, which began on Tuesday at the invitation of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, also included official talks on Wednesday aimed at enhancing collaboration in areas such as education, trade and investment, climate change, fisheries, and consular affairs.