The Maldives & Sri Lanka Sign Three Key Agreements

On Wednesday, the Maldives and Sri Lanka signed three key agreements aimed at fostering greater bilateral relations and cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. The agreements highlighted important fields such as cultural and health cooperation as well as strengthening people-to-people relations.

The agreements were signed during the Fourth Session of the Maldives – Sri Lanka Joint Commission held yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, Abdulla Shahid and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, H.E. M.U.M. Ali Sabry presided over and witnessed the signing ceremony. Foreign Minister Shahid is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka.

The agreements signed include three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). A ‘Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the Establishment of the Maldives Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka’ was signed between the High Commissioner of Maldives to Sri Lanka, Ali Faiz and the Secretary to the Ministry of Budhhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka.

Another MoU was signed between the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Health of Maldives, Shamau Shareef and the Additional Secretary (Medical Services) to the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka, Dr. A.K. Sunil Bernard De Alwis. This MoU focused on the field of health cooperation between the two countries. The third MoU agreed on building cultural cooperation between the two sides and was signed between Mohamed Thoriq, Minister of State for Arts, Culture and Heritage of Maldives and Somaranthne Vidanapathirana, Secretary to the Ministery of Budhhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka.