Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded his state visit to Maldives and departed to Sri Lankaon Sunday morning.

PM Modi was seen off at the Velana International Airport by the President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

This trip was PM Modi’s first visit abroad following his re-election.

After arriving in capital Male’ City on Saturday, PM Modi was greeted by a 21-gun salute at Republic Square.

Afterwards, he and President Solih held a meeting at the President’s Office where officials of both countries exchanged MoUs in relation to the development of Maldives’ human resources, specifically in the health sector, the economy, capacity building for civil servants, improving expertise in the economic sector, white shipping, and hydrography.

PM Modi and President Solih jointly inaugurated two projects – the Composite Training Center for the Maldives National Defence Force and the Coastal Surveillance Radar System to monitor and protect Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

President Solih also conferred PM Modi with Maldives’ highest honour, the Order of Distinguished Rule of Izzudheen.

Later in the evening, PM Modi gave an address at the Maldives parliament, where he emphasized the shared heritage of India and Maldives and vowed that India would always stay alongside Maldives in its fight for democratic principles.

Following his address, parliament speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed gifted PM Modi a copy of Maldives first constitution, as a token of appreciation for India’s kindness towards the Maldives.

On Saturday night, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed hosted a special banquet at Kurumba Maldives resort in honor of PM Modi.