The Maldives and Sri Lanka have discussed cooperation in the international arena. The discussions were held during a meeting held between Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Ali Sabry during his official visit to Sri Lanka.
In his statement after the meeting, Minister Zameer thanked Sri Lanka on behalf of the citizens of the Maldives for its generous assistance to the development of the Maldives. He also mentioned the role played by Sri Lankan workers in the Maldives.
Additionally, Minister Zameer said that the two countries have agreed to work together for sustainable development, peace, security and progress in the South Asian region through regional platforms such as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). They also discussed the importance of working together to maintain the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of the two countries, which both rely on fisheries.
Furthermore, both ministers discussed key areas of special priority, such as trade, education, fisheries, health, tourism, youth and cooperation between the two countries in the international arena. Minister Zameer also reiterated the stand taken by both countries on the ongoing attacks on Gaza and expressed the hope that a permanent ceasefire would be achieved as soon as possible and humanitarian aid would be provided to the people of Gaza.
Moreover, both ministers agreed that the Maldives and Sri Lanka are among the countries most likely to be affected by climate change, and that more rapid and robust action is needed in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.