President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has attended a state banquet in Sri Lanka held in his honour by Sr Lanka President Anura Kumara Disanayaka.
The event, hosted by President Disanayaka, formed part of President Muizzu’s first state visit to the country since taking office. He was accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a Maldivian delegation.
During the banquet, President Dr Muizzu expressed appreciation for what he described as the “warm welcome and generous hospitality” extended by the Sri Lankan government and its people.
He highlighted the longstanding ties between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, describing the island nation as a “close and trusted neighbour”. He noted that relations between the two countries have been shaped over decades through cooperation in areas such as education and healthcare, as well as strong people-to-people connections.
President Dr Muizzu said the visit symbolised the enduring bond between the two nations and acknowledged Sri Lanka’s support in the Maldives’ development. He also stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in key sectors, including digital transformation, sustainable tourism, renewable energy, education, and ocean conservation.
Addressing shared global challenges, the president pointed to climate change as a particular concern for both countries, calling for continued collaboration, advocacy, and innovation.
He added that the relationship between the two nations is ultimately grounded in the close ties between their people, which he said give “true meaning” to formal diplomatic relations. The president expressed confidence that bilateral ties would continue to deepen in the coming years.
Senior officials and cabinet ministers from both countries were also present at the banquet.
President Muizzu and the First Lady are currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka from 3 to 6 May 2026.