Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across key sectors are set to be signed during President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s upcoming state visit to Sri Lanka.

The visit, scheduled from 3 May to 5, will take place at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayake. The government of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the signing of multiple agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Among the planned agreements is an MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University to facilitate training programmes, staff exchanges and joint research.

An MoU will also be signed between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to strengthen training opportunities for teachers and school leaders.

In the health sector, the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare will sign an agreement with the University of Colombo to enhance academic cooperation. A separate MoU is expected to support efforts to expand tourism collaboration between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Further agreements include cooperation between the National Archives of Maldives and Sri Lanka’s Department of National Archives to strengthen archival work, as well as an MoU between the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports aimed at advancing youth and sports development.

Sri Lanka, the Maldives’ closest geographic neighbour, has maintained longstanding diplomatic and economic relations with the country since 1965.