Sri Lanka to sign mutual pacts with the Maldives 

Bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives are set to be strengthened as the two countries have scheduled the signing of several agreements during Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s official visit to Malé next week.

The PM has been invited by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Maldives, to chair the fourth Indian Ocean Conference organised by India Foundation in association with the Government of the Maldives, which will act as a forum to discuss regional and global challenges faced by countries in the Indian Ocean region.


It is considered an opportunity for stakeholders to conceptualise and work towards building institutional frameworks for managing threats to peace and security in the region, which requires the strengthening of multilateral cooperation based on mutual respect and equality, and in adherence to international law.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives are expected to use this opportunity to review agreements already in place, while exploring new areas for cooperation not only on a bilateral basis but at a global level as well.

The facilitation of visas is one agreement that the two nations are scheduled to sign during the visit.

Moreover, it is anticipated that the governments will sign MOUs relating to higher education, water supply, vocational training and youth development, as well as the promotion of the rights of children, women, elders and disabled persons.

These agreements are expected to improve friendship and mutual cooperation between the two countries.