President Muizzu Concludes Sri Lanka State Visit with New Bilateral Agreements

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed have returned to Malé following a comprehensive State Visit to Sri Lanka from May 3 to 6, 2026. The visit, conducted at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayaka, aimed to strengthen longstanding bilateral ties and explore new avenues for strategic cooperation between the two Indian Ocean neighbors. A central outcome of the visit was the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) designed to modernize cooperation. These agreements span diverse sectors, including tourism, youth development, archiving, and the prevention of violent extremism. Furthermore, the two nations committed to academic collaboration within the defense and health sectors, alongside professional development initiatives for school teachers. Economic diversification and trade were high priorities during the mission. President Muizzu delivered the keynote address at the Maldives–Sri Lanka Business Forum, calling for increased two-way investment flows and urging Sri Lankan investors to expand their footprint in the Maldives. This economic push was highlighted by the launch of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) products in Sri Lanka, marking a significant step in exporting Maldivian value-added fisheries products to regional markets. Beyond official talks, the visit commemorated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries with a tree-planting ceremony at Vihara Mahadevi Park. President Muizzu also held high-level meetings with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Speaker of Parliament Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. First Lady Sajidha Mohamed focused her itinerary on social welfare and female empowerment. Her engagements included a visit to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, where she interacted with patients in the orthopedic and pediatric surgery wards. She also visited the Good Market Sri Lanka Office to support women-led businesses and met with the Mayor of Colombo, Ms Vraîe Cally Balthazaar. This visit marks President Muizzu’s first official state mission to Sri Lanka since taking office in November 2023. It follows a reciprocal visit by President Disanayaka to the Maldives in July 2025, underscoring a renewed period of diplomatic engagement between the two nations. The President and First Lady concluded their trip by meeting with members of the Maldivian diaspora residing in Colombo.