Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has extended an invitation to Maldivian businesses to invest in Sri Lanka, stating that there is a reliable and favorable environment for foreign investors in the country. During his official visit to the Maldives, Dissanayake, in a joint statement issued after formal discussions yesterday, said that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu shared information about ongoing efforts to establish a single window system to create a more conducive environment for foreign investors. Consequently, Dissanayake mentioned that they discussed opportunities available for Maldivian businesses in Sri Lanka’s modern technology parks.
“We specifically invited Maldivian entrepreneurs to invest in IT/AI, fisheries and agro-processing, tourism, real estate, and infrastructure development sectors,” he said.
Dissanayake stated that as tourism plays a crucial role in the economies of both countries, they also discussed potential collaborations in this field with President Muizzu. Additionally, he mentioned that they deliberated on expanding cooperation and assistance between the Maldives and Sri Lanka in ensuring the security and safety of the Indian Ocean, as well as addressing climate change and environmental protection.
During Dissanayake’s three-day visit at President Muizzu’s invitation, he is scheduled to participate in a business forum organize forum organized by the Sri Lankan High Commission in the Maldives for Maldivian businesses. Two agreements have also been signed between the Maldives and Sri Lanka during this visit.
Following the formal discussions between the two presidents, the two agreements signed include one on cooperation in criminal matters and another between the Bandaranaike International Institute of Diplomatic Studies of Sri Lanka and the Maldives Foreign Service Institute for training young Maldivian foreign service professionals. This visit by Dissanayake, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, marks his first official trip to the Maldives since assuming the Sri Lankan presidency last year.
Dissanayake is scheduled to conclude his visit and depart from the Maldives at some point tomorrow night.
