ECONOMYNEXT – Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from May 3-6 and is expected to hold bilateral talks, sources close to Muizzu said. Muizzu’s visit comes 10 months after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the Maldives in July this year. “It’s a reciprocal visit to Sri Lanka President’s July visit,” a source said.

“It’s an official visit on the invitation of Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He is expected to hold bilateral talks on many sectors including trade, investment, tourism, and information sharing.” During the Maldives visit in July, President Dissanayake signed two key agreements: the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement and an MoU between the Foreign Service Institute of Maldives (FOSIM) and the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute of Sri Lanka (BIDTI). The bilateral relationship between the two Indian Ocean islands has traditionally been warm, low-key, and cooperative, underpinned by membership in the Commonwealth, SAARC, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Trade between the two nations is modest at around USD 40 million annually, mainly Sri Lankan apparel, ceramics, and food exports. Tourism flows both ways, with Maldivian patients frequently seeking advanced treatment in Colombo hospitals and students coming for higher education. Defence and security cooperation has grown since 1988 and both nations now conduct joint naval exercises and share intelligence on piracy and trafficking.

Politically, the relationship has remained largely unaffected by regime changes in either country. President Muizzu won elections in 2023 with an “India-Out” campaign, signaling a renewed pivot toward China via the Belt and Road Initiative. However, the anti-Indian sentiment has declined since the election. (Colombo/April 19/2025)