Air ambulance services are to begin between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

This was announced as part of Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen’s ongoing visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

As part of his visit, Minister Ameen paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation of Sri Lanka Nimal Siripala de Silva on Tuesday.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’ following the meeting, Minister Ameen stated that he had successful discussions in fostering the relationship between the two ministries.

Further, they agreed upon creating a framework for immediate approval process between the two countries on urgent requirements, specifically on medical evacuation flights.

In a post on Facebook, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Siripala announced that the immersion air transport services between the two countries will commence from 1 March 2024 onwards.

Noting that discussions focused on launching an ambulance air transport service required to Sri Lanka for emergency evacuation in the Maldives, Minister Siripala cited the Maldivian minister having stated that Maldivians have been taken to India for emergency care so far, however, the Maldivian government has decided to send such patients to Sri Lankan hospitals for treatment in the future instead, considering the quality of emergency care in the neighboring country.

Extensive discussions were held on the matter, and it was decided to resume the ambulance air transport service between the two countries.

The air ambulance service will be launched from Maldives to Katunayake airport.

Minister Siripala also highlighted that he gave the approval required for the efforts by the authorities of the Airport and Civil Airlines Authority, to establish a special unit at Katunayake Airport and provide all the facilities required for the same unit, to the Secretary of Ministry.

This comes at a time relations between Maldives and India have soured once again, due to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s foreign policy.