President Anura Kumara Dissanayake used his first official visit to the Maldives to pitch the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative and invite Maldivian investors to key sectors like IT, tourism, and renewable energy. Talks also included regional security, fishing corridors, and stronger cultural ties.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake highlighted the Sri Lankan government’s commitment to transforming the country through the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ program during his state visit to the Maldives. The visit, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two island nations, marks a renewed push to foster bilateral trade, security, education, and sustainable development.
In a joint statement with Maldivian President Mohamed Muisu, the Sri Lankan leader extended a personal invitation for a reciprocal state visit to Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient date. The visit was marked by a comprehensive dialogue between the two leaders and their respective delegations, aiming to deepen long-standing ties that span centuries.
Addressing a formal gathering in Male, President Dissanayake said the two nations share more than geographic proximity—they share history, trade routes, cultural bonds, and a common interest in regional cooperation. He praised the hospitality extended by the Maldivian government and emphasized the potential for deeper engagement across multiple sectors.
Among the major themes discussed were trade and investment, where President Dissanayake invited Maldivian investors to consider Sri Lanka as a reliable and promising destination. He highlighted Sri Lanka’s new “One-Stop-Shopping” mechanism for investors and introduced upcoming high-tech industrial parks designed to simplify business operations.
He also urged investments in fisheries, tourism, IT/AI, real estate, and agro-processing. The two leaders discussed expanding employment opportunities and appreciated the Sri Lankan workforce’s contribution to the Maldivian economy, as well as the Maldivian community’s role in Sri Lanka.
Education featured prominently, with the Sri Lankan president noting the role played by Sri Lankan institutions in training Maldivian professionals. The potential to deepen academic ties was emphasized. Both sides expressed interest in strengthening aviation and tourism links, as well as developing youth and sports programs.
A key discussion point was sustainable development and climate cooperation. The President outlined Sri Lanka’s plan to generate 70% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and proposed joint projects with the Maldives in the green energy sector. He also drew attention to the parallels between the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ program and the Maldives’ own solid waste management initiatives.
In the context of maritime and fisheries cooperation, the leaders discussed setting up migration routes for Sri Lankan fishing vessels through Maldivian waters, promoting sustainable and regulated fishing practices.
Cultural ties also received attention, with President Dissanayake noting the linguistic and historical parallels between Sinhala and Dhivehi and proposing initiatives to enhance people-to-people connections.
He thanked the Maldives for its longstanding support in regional and international forums and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and mutual backing in global platforms.
The President concluded his visit by announcing a business forum and plans to meet the Sri Lankan community living in the Maldives, reinforcing the importance of diaspora diplomacy in the country’s long-term development agenda.
