President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed have returned to Malé after concluding their State Visit to Sri Lanka, which was undertaken at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka.
The visit, held from 3 to 6 May 2026, included a series of official meetings, ceremonial events, and community engagements aimed at further strengthening the close ties between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
During the visit, President Muizzu held official discussions with President Disanayaka, with both leaders focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation and exploring new opportunities for collaboration across various sectors.
The two Presidents also witnessed the exchange of seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering areas including youth development, archiving cooperation, tourism, prevention of violent extremism, academic cooperation in the defence and health sectors, and the training and professional development of teachers.
Following the discussions, the two leaders addressed the media and delivered press statements.
As part of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, President Muizzu and President Disanayaka participated in a tree-planting ceremony at Vihara Mahadevi Park.
Several senior Sri Lankan officials also paid courtesy calls on President Muizzu during the visit, including Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Speaker of Parliament Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, MP, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, MP. The meetings reflected the shared commitment of both countries to further deepen bilateral relations.
President Muizzu also delivered the keynote address at the Maldives–Sri Lanka Business Forum held during the visit. In his remarks, the President encouraged greater investment from Sri Lankan businesses and highlighted the importance of strengthening two-way trade and investment ties.
The President additionally attended the launch of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) products in Sri Lanka, marking the company’s expansion into regional markets with its value-added fisheries products.
During the visit, the President and First Lady attended a State Banquet hosted in their honour by President Disanayaka. They also visited the High Commission of the Maldives, the Maldives Cultural Centre, and the Colombo National Museum.
As part of her official engagements, First Lady Sajidha Mohamed visited the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, where she toured several wards, including orthopaedic, plastic surgery, and paediatric surgery units, and interacted with patients.
The First Lady also visited the Good Market Sri Lanka Office, which promotes women-led businesses, and met with local entrepreneurs. Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar additionally hosted the First Lady for a traditional Sri Lankan tea experience.
President Muizzu and the First Lady also met with members of the Maldivian community residing in Colombo.
This was President Muizzu’s first State Visit to Sri Lanka since assuming office in November 2023. The visit followed President Disanayaka’s State Visit to the Maldives from 28 to 30 July 2025, commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
A high-level Maldivian delegation comprising Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials accompanied the President and First Lady throughout the visit.
Upon concluding the visit, President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Sri Lanka for the warm hospitality extended to them during their stay.
In a message shared on social media in the Sinhalese language following the visit, President Muizzu said he was leaving Sri Lanka confident that the longstanding friendship and close cooperation between the two countries would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.
The President also thanked the Sri Lankan Government and its people for the hospitality shown to him, the First Lady, and the accompanying Maldivian delegation.
President Muizzu further noted that his discussions with Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya covered a broad range of areas and described the talks as productive and encouraging.
Concluding his message, the President expressed hope for further strengthening bilateral relations and achieving shared goals that would benefit the people of both countries, while wishing for the enduring friendship between the Maldives and Sri Lanka to continue for generations to come.
