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High Commissioners of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan present credentials to President

The high commissioners of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan to the Maldives have presented their credentials to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The High Commissioner-designate of Sri Lanka Rohana Bedagge presented his credentials to President Solih at a ceremony held at the President’s Office on August 31. Following the ceremony, the president and high commissioner spoke on further strengthening the relationship between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

During the meeting, the president noted the strength of official bilateral ties between the Maldives and Sri Lanka is matched by the close informal ties between the people of the two countries that have developed over centuries. The president also thanked the Sri Lankan government for the generous assistance provided to the Maldives during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and especially for the help extended to Maldivians residing in Sri Lanka. He expressed that Sri Lanka remains one of the Maldives’ closest development partners, whose contribution to the socio-economic progress of the Maldives is immeasurable.

Speaking at the meeting, High Commissioner Bedagge noted Sri Lanka and the Maldives share a special bond underlined by shared heritage, cultural exchange and mutual trust. He further expressed his commitment to enhance existing cooperation in the areas of education, health and culture.

Meanwhile, The High Commissioner-designate of Bangladesh Rear Admiral Nazmul Hassan presented his credentials to President Solih, at a separate ceremony held at the President’s Office on August 31. After the ceremony, the president and high commissioner spoke of strengthening friendly relations between the Maldives and Bangladesh.

During the meeting with the Bangladeshi high commissioner, President Solih noted Bangladesh and the Maldives have always enjoyed excellent relations marked by similarities in culture and a common religion. He thanked the Bangladeshi government for the continued assistance to the Maldives’ socio-economic development, and expressed his gratitude for the help provided to the Maldives throughout the ongoing pandemic, by providing food, medicine and equipment, and through sending medical personnel. He also acknowledged the positive contributions of the many expatriates from Bangladesh working and residing in the Maldives, and thanked the Bangladeshi government for the ongoing assistance to the worker regularisation and repatriation programmes of the Maldives.

The president also thanked the Bangladeshi government for their efforts to ensure the well-being of Maldivians living in Bangladesh, despite the difficulties imposed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The president and high commissioner both expressed their keenness to explore further avenues for cooperation, to take forward our bilateral partnership.

In another ceremony held at the President’s Office on August 31, the High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan Vice Admiral Retired Ather Mukhtar presented his credentials to President Solih. Afterwards, the president and high commissioner spoke on progressing bilateral relations between the two countries, that have long endured on the basis of our common values and faith.

President Solih noted he recently had the pleasure of speaking with the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan over the telephone, during which both leaders discussed issues of mutual importance and their countries’ respective experiences regarding the ongoing pandemic, COVID-19. He relayed his best wishes to the prime minister, and praised the Pakistani government for its success in containing the disease. The president also expressed his condolences to all those in Pakistan who continue to be affected by the heavy monsoon rains occurring in the country.

Ending the call, the president expressed his eagerness to work with the new high commissioner to further the partnership between the two countries. He also expressed his gratitude to the government of Pakistan for its past and ongoing assistance to the Maldives, especially in the fields of youth development, health and education.