Sri Lanka and Maldives agreed to cooperate with each other in the fight against terrorism and on global environmental matters, through bilateral and regional mechanisms, said a joint statement issued at the end of the two-day State visit by Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom yesterday (February 13).

During the State visit, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gayoom held a one-to-one meeting and discussed a wide range of issues of both bilateral and regional interest, which were detailed and substantive in consonance with the close and friendly ties that exist between the two countries. The two Presidents jointly chaired a session of highest-level Bilateral Consultation at the Presidential Secretariat.

They reiterated their commitment to the promotion of economic development and social progress.

They also agreed to expand and diversify the bilateral cooperation and maintain regular high level exchanges.

The two leaders recognized the need to expedite the implementation of the agreements signed on education and culture in order to promote people-to-people contact.

It was agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation in the fields of tourism and fisheries.

With the objective of further expanding bilateral cooperation, two bilateral agreements on Transfer of Prisoners and on Visa Facilitation were signed by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, in the presence of the two Presidents.

The Maldives delegation informed that the country's national carrier "Air Maldives" would commence flights to Colombo shortly. The Sri Lankan delegation informed that the aeronautical authorities of the two countries should meet early to revise the existing Air Services Agreement.

Full text of the Joint Statement

His Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic of Maldives accompanied by First Lady Madam Nasreena Gayoom, and a high level delegation paid a State visit to Sri Lanka from the 12th to the13th February, 2008, at the invitation of the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President and Madam Gayoom were received by President Rajapaksa, and First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

During the State visit, the two leaders held a one–to-one meeting and discussed a wide range of issues of both bilateral and regional interest, which were detailed and substantive in consonance with the close and friendly ties that exist between the two countries.

The two Presidents jointly chaired a session of highest-level Bilateral Consultations at the Presidential Secretariat. They reiterated their commitment to the promotion of economic development and social progress. They also agreed to expand and diversify the bilateral cooperation and maintain regular high level exchanges.

The two leaders recognized the need to expedite the implementation of the agreements signed on education and culture in order to promote people-to-people contact. Both sides also agreed to co-operate with each other in the fight against terrorism and on global environmental matters, through bilateral and regional mechanisms.

Further, it was agreed to intensify the bilateral cooperation in the fields of tourism and fisheries.

In the context of the upcoming SAARC Summit in Sri Lanka, the Maldivian President assured Sri Lanka of his Government’s fullest cooperation to Sri Lanka, and conveyed his country’s acceptance of dates that Sri Lanka had proposed for the Summit.

With the objective of further expanding bilateral cooperation, two bilateral agreements on Transfer of Prisoners and on Visa Facilitation were signed by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, in the presence of the two Presidents.

The Maldives’ delegation informed that the country’s national carrier “Air Maldives” would commence flights to Colombo shortly. The Sri Lankan delegation informed that the aeronautical authorities of the two countries should meet early with a view to revise the existing Air Services Agreement.

Sri Lanka’s highest national honour, namely “Lanka Mithra Vibushna”, was conferred on President Gayoom by President Rajapaksa, at a special ceremony in recognition of his statesmanship and leadership in the development of the Maldives, the strengthening of Sri Lanka - Maldives relations, the enhancement of regional cooperation in the SAARC as well as his contribution to the global campaign on climate change. President Gayoom in his acceptance speech thanked the President of Sri Lanka and said that he was greatly honoured to have been conferred the prestigious honour from Sri Lanka. He expressed his confidence that it would bring the two countries closer together.

A State Banquet was hosted by President Rajapaksa and Madam Rajapaksa in honor of the visiting President and First Lady of the Maldives. Courtesy Calls were also made on the Maldivian President by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

The two sides reiterated the importance of enhancing the existing close relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and expressed their confidence that President Gayoom’s successful State visit to Sri Lanka would further strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation which are at an all time high.

The President Gayoom recalled the historic State visit to the Maldives by President Rajapaksa and Madam Rajapaksa in February 2007 and noted that relations had strengthened as a result of the visit.

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Last Updated Date: February 14, 2008 - 5.15 GMT