Discussions have been held on bilateral issues of importance for the governments of Maldives and Sri Lanka.

This was done during the Meeting of the Senior Officials of the Fourth Session of the Maldives – Sri Lanka Joint Commission, held on Tuesday.

The Meeting of the Senior Officials, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, was co-chaired by Bilateral Secretary Dr. Hala Hameed and Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Yasoja Gunasekera.

The discussions revolved around several bilateral issues of importance to both countries, including trade and investment, defense, tourism, fisheries, education, health, employment, youth, sports and skill development, consular and cultural affairs.

Further, extensive discussions were held regarding consular issues and regional and international cooperation.

Delegates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Heritage, Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment joined the meeting.

Minister of State for Education Dr. Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed, Minister of State for Tourism Dr. Ahmed Salih, Minister of State for Home Affairs Ali Nazeer, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health Shamau Shareef, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Heritage Shamun Hameed, Director General of the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Adam Ziyad, Principal Director, at the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant Colonel Ismail Athif Senior Policy Director at the Ministry of Higher Education Sonath Abdul Sattar, Director at the Ministry of Economic Development Ahmed Ifthikhaar and Deputy Director at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Zubaidha Abdul Hameed made interventions at the meeting.

On Wednesday, the Ministerial segment of the Fourth Session of the Maldives - Sri Lanka Joint Commission was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid led the Maldives delegation, with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka M.U.M. Ali Sabry leading the delegation from Sri Lanka.