Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed has firmly denied reports that the government is planning a commercial duty‑free zone with Sri Lanka. In a post on X, Minister Saeed stated unequivocally that “the rumours that the Maldivian government is working to establish a commercial duty‑free zone between the Maldives and Sri Lanka is not true. It is not something that has been considered or discussed so far”.
The clarification was issued in response to recent social media speculation suggesting that formal discussions were underway between the two nations. Minister Saeed’s statement makes clear that these claims are unfounded and that no such initiative has been proposed.
Although the Maldives and Sri Lanka enjoy longstanding diplomatic and trade relations—cooperating in areas such as tourism, fisheries, and maritime security—there is currently no framework for a joint duty‑free commercial zone. Implementing such a scheme would require complex negotiations on tariffs, customs infrastructure, legal agreements, and oversight mechanisms.
Currently, the Maldivian government’s trade strategy focuses on existing agreements, most notably the Maldives–China Free Trade Agreement, which took effect on 1 January 2025 and has already started to reduce tariffs on key exports like seafood products.
By publicly dismissing the rumor, Minister Saeed has steered attention back to confirmed economic initiatives, underscoring that any future plans with Sri Lanka would require formal intergovernmental discussions, parliamentary review, and technical stakeholder involvement—not merely speculative reports.
As of late June 2025, no official dialogue or preparatory work has begun on a Maldives–Sri Lanka duty‑free zone, and the minister’s statement is the government’s only formal response on the matter.
