Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has met with President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena and reiterated the commitment to work together bilaterally and at multilateral forums. The foreign minister is on a visit to Sri Lanka to attend the country's 75th Independence Day celebrations.
During the meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister Shahid held discussions on the positive changes and progress made in relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives during the past decades. Moreover, discussions were held on how the two countries could work together and provide assistance in the future.
Moreover, during the meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister Shahid held discussions mainly focused on the long-standing friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. They assured to work together in the international arena in the future.
Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Maldives. The two countries had strong trade relations even before the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the years, the historical ties have expanded in many ways in the fields of education, trade, investment, tourism, and culture.