Maldives – Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations
The High Commission of Maldives in Sri Lanka is the official channel established to communicate between the two Governments and work towards consolidating and strengthening the existing long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries. Since the establishment of the High Commission, the Maldivian Government has been working closely with the Sri Lankan Government to establish and foster the long standing brotherly relationships that had existed for generations.
The Maldives – Sri Lanka Joint Commission which was established in 1984 provides a platform for regular and more structured review of the longstanding bilateral relations and dialogue between the two countries.
The Joint Commission focuses on expanding bilateral cooperation in a number of areas including Trade and Investment, Tourism, Employment, Fisheries, Education, Health, and Cultural cooperation between the two countries. Held biannually, the Joint Commission reviews progress in cooperation, implementation of existing agreements, and explores new areas of engagement. The Fourth Session of the Sri Lanka - Maldives Joint Commission co-chaired by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid of Maldives was successfully concluded on 07 June 2023 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo.
The next Joint Commission will be held in 2025 in Maldives.
Apart from the Government to Government interactions, the High Commission had established close relations with other key Sri Lankan organizations, to work towards achieving sustainable benefits to the Maldives, socially and economically.
The High Commission has been providing various consular services and assistance to the Maldivians residing in Sri Lanka, since its establishment. Sri Lanka is considered to be the second home for hundreds of Maldivians. Maldivians reside in Sri Lanka, mainly for educational and medical purposes. In addition, there are Maldivian businessmen and quite a number of visitors travelling to Sri Lanka for leisure purposes.
Consular Services provided for Maldivians by the High Commission include, renewing and processing of passports, issuing temporary travel documents, issuing documents to facilitate resident visa and visit visa extension and assisting Maldivian nationals and Government officials in obtaining visas to other foreign countries that have diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka. It is also in the mandate of High Commission to provide assistance in processing and renewing national identity card, attestation, births, deaths and marriage registration to Maldivians.
There are 25 Foreign Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Maldives in Sri Lanka. The High Commission also acts as an intermediary and a catalyst to promote the bilateral cooperation between their respective countries and the Maldives.
The High Commission also plays an important role to strengthen and enhance mutually beneficial defence relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, through working closely with the Sri Lankan Defense counterparts and other Defence Advisors of Diplomatic Missions present in Colombo.
2024 marks the 59th Anniversary of establishment of Bilateral Relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
