Sri Lanka remains a close development partner: President

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed today that Sri Lanka will continue to stay a close development ally of the Maldives.

The President stated this in a social media post shared following a meeting with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. President Dissanayake is currently in the Maldives on a three day State visit.

Discussions between the two leaders focused on exploring avenues for increased cooperation between the countries, the President said.

"These sincere efforts will contribute towards strengthening bilateral relations and people-to-people ties," the President said.

During the Sri Lankan President's State visit, a number of agreements were signed today between Maldives and Sri Lanka. This includes a treaty of criminal justice cooperation and offering trainings for youth in the Maldives' foreign service at the Bandaranaike International Institute of Diplomatic Studies.

Maldives established diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka on the day it achieved independence, with Sri Lanka being the second country Maldives established diplomatic ties with. This year marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Maldives and Sri Lanka.