Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is expected to undertake a three-day official visit to the Maldives in the final week of July, with talks set to focus on strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation, reports in Sri Lanka said.
The visit, which would be Dissanayake’s sixth overseas trip since taking office in September 2024, is likely to take place following the Maldives’ Independence Day on 26 July and coincide with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two Indian Ocean nations on 29 July.
“Bilateral trade and relationships will be the focus during the meetings between the leaders and officials of the two nations,” a diplomatic source told the Colombo-based EconomyNext newspaper.
The outlet quoted an official at Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry as saying that initial preparations for the visit were under way, while the President’s Media Division said the trip had not yet been finalised.
The Maldivian foreign ministry has so far not commented on the reports.
The Maldives and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations in 1965 and have since maintained close relations, often working together in regional bodies such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).