President Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to depart for Sri Lanka on a state visit next Monday, following an invitation from Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
According to the President's Office, the visit will feature high-level discussions between the two heads of state and senior officials, aimed at further strengthening the long-standing close ties between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
The President's Office further noted that Muizzu and Dissanayake will oversee the exchange of several bilateral agreements intended to enhance cooperation across various sectors.
Muizzu will be accompanied on this visit by his wife Sajidha Mohamed, along with a high-level delegation including cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
Dissanayake previously visited the Maldives in July to attend the celebrations marking the Independence Day. During that visit, the two nations signed two key agreements.
During his July visit, Dissanayake encouraged Maldivian entrepreneurs to invest in Sri Lanka, highlighting his administration's ongoing efforts to transform the country into a more investor-friendly destination.
Following the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, Sri Lanka designated the Maldives as a "Country of Security Concern." Reports indicate that this classification has resulted in various challenges for Maldivians residing in or visiting the neighboring country.
Sri Lanka was historically home to one of the largest Maldivian expatriate communities. Prior to the Easter bombings, an estimated 15,000 Maldivians lived in Sri Lanka; however, reports suggest that this number has since dwindled to approximately 1,500.
