President Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed attended a state banquet hosted in their honour by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as part of the Maldivian leader’s official visit to the country.
Addressing the gathering, President Muizzu expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him, the First Lady, and the Maldivian delegation, describing Sri Lanka as a close and dependable neighbour of the Maldives.
He noted that the relationship between the two nations is built on longstanding cooperation in areas such as education and healthcare, alongside strong people-to-people connections that continue to reinforce diplomatic ties.
The President said the visit reflects the enduring partnership between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, while also highlighting opportunities to further strengthen collaboration in emerging areas. He pointed to sectors such as digital transformation, sustainable tourism, renewable energy, education, and ocean conservation as key areas for future cooperation.
Muizzu also emphasized the need for joint advocacy on global platforms, particularly in addressing shared challenges such as climate change, which continues to pose significant risks to both countries.
He added that the mutual respect and goodwill between the people of the Maldives and Sri Lanka remain the foundation of the relationship, expressing confidence that bilateral ties will continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.
The banquet was attended by cabinet ministers and senior government officials from both countries, underscoring the importance of the visit, which marks the first state visit to Sri Lanka by President Muizzu and the First Lady.
