The significance of Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake's Maldives trip in the backdrop of PM Modi's visit

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has set off to Maldives on an official visit, making it his first trip to Maldives after taking over as the president in 2024.

Dissanayake was welcomed at Velana International Airport with a Guard of Honour at Jumhooree Maidhaan, which included a 21-gun salute as part of the official welcome ceremony. Maldives is deemed as the strategically most important region in the Indian Ocean for Sri Lanka. Anura's visit to Maldives assumes significance as this is his first visit to the island, particularly three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit and his meetings with Maldivian president Mohammed Muizzu. Modi's talks with Muizzu marked a turnaround in India-Maldives ties right from line of credit, trade talks and direct flights. Modi's visit concluded with the signing of several key bilateral agreements between India and the Maldives.

Three days after Modi's visit, Maldives will host Sri Lanka's president Dissanayake with an aim to strengthen its ties with the neighbourhood in the Indian Ocean region. Dissanayake's visit also gains importance as 2025 marks 60 years of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Maldives. The Maldives and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations on July 26, 1965, and this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Sri Lanka is the first country to have established diplomatic ties with Maldives following its independence.

This is the second official visit by a foreign head of state since President Muizzu assumed office on November 17, 2023. His visit comes at the invitation of Muizzu and is expected to serve as a platform for deepening regional cooperation. During the three-day visit, Dissanayake is expected to take part in a slew of meetings with a view of expanding collaboration between the two nations in terms of trade, tourism, maritime security and environmental sustainability. Muizzu and Dissanayake are also expected to deliberate and explore the opportunities for economic integration and people-to-people exchange.

A series of bilateral agreements are likely to be formalised during the visit. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) reflecting the growing emphasis on shared regional priorities and development goals are also likely to be signed during Dissanayake's stay in Maldives. A high-ranking delegation including Sri lanka's foreign minister Vijitha Herath and senior officials from various other departments are also travelling with Dissanayake.

The delegation will stay in Maldives until July 30, participating in diplomatic engagements and commemorative events tied to the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka–Maldives relations.

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