Maldives - Sri Lanka Relations

Maldives – Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations

The High Commission of the Republic of Maldives in Sri Lanka serves as the official diplomatic channel between the Governments of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, working to strengthen and advance the longstanding bilateral relations between the two countries. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1965, the Maldives and Sri Lanka have enjoyed close and friendly ties founded on shared history, cultural affinity, geographical proximity, and strong people-to-people connections.

The Maldives–Sri Lanka Joint Commission, established in 1984, serves as the principal mechanism for structured dialogue and review of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The Joint Commission provides a platform to assess ongoing collaboration, review the implementation of existing agreements, and identify new areas of mutual interest and cooperation.

Bilateral cooperation under the Joint Commission encompasses a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, tourism, education, health, fisheries, labour and employment, defence and security, environment, culture, youth development, and capacity building. The Fourth Session of the Maldives–Sri Lanka Joint Commission was successfully held on 7 June 2023 in Colombo and was co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Hon. Ali Sabry, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, H.E. Abdulla Shahid.

The Fifth Session of the Maldives–Sri Lanka Joint Commission is scheduled to be held in the Maldives, continuing the commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation and further strengthen bilateral relations.

In addition to Government-to-Government engagement, the High Commission maintains close collaboration with key Sri Lankan institutions, public and private sector organizations, educational establishments, healthcare providers, and civil society organizations to promote mutually beneficial cooperation and support the interests of the Maldives and its citizens.

The High Commission provides a wide range of consular services and assistance to Maldivian nationals residing in or visiting Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka remains an important destination for Maldivians, particularly for education, healthcare, business, and tourism purposes. Thousands of Maldivians travel to and reside in Sri Lanka each year, making consular support an important aspect of the High Commission’s work.

Consular services provided by the High Commission include passport renewal and issuance, Certificate of Identity (CI), assistance with visa-related documentation, national identity card services, attestation of documents, birth, marriage and death registration, and support to Maldivian citizens requiring assistance while in Sri Lanka. The High Commission also facilitates official engagements and provides assistance to Maldivian Government officials and citizens dealing with diplomatic missions accredited to the Maldives and resident in Colombo.

Currently, more than twenty foreign diplomatic missions accredited to the Maldives are resident in Sri Lanka. The High Commission works closely with these missions to facilitate diplomatic engagement and promote cooperation between their respective countries and the Maldives.

The High Commission also plays an important role in strengthening defence and security cooperation between the Maldives and Sri Lanka through close engagement with the Sri Lankan defence authorities and diplomatic missions based in Colombo. Defence cooperation remains a key pillar of bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of maritime security, capacity building, training, and regional stability.

In 2025, the Maldives and Sri Lanka commemorated the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, marking six decades of enduring friendship, cooperation, and partnership. As the two countries continue to deepen collaboration across multiple sectors, the Maldives–Sri Lanka relationship remains one of the closest and most significant bilateral partnerships in the Indian Ocean region.