President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a pay a courtesy call on the new Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed during his brief official visit to Male on November 10-11.

President Rajapaksa extended his warm felicitations to President Nasheed as the new leader of the Maldives and welcomed the first ever multi-party election and the new reforms as a new beginning in the political history of the Maldives. He conveyed his best wishes to President Nasheed for a successful tenure of office.

Both sides agreed to continue to work together and to strengthen and deepen the multi-faceted links which exist between the two countries. It was noted that there are over 10,000 Sri Lankans in the Maldives and the Maldivian President welcomed their presence. He stated that the private sector investments, especially in the tourism sector is encouraged. In this context, the possibility of working together to promote joint destination packages which should benefit both countries was discussed.

Reference was made to the library building in the Maldives which was donated by Sri Lanka in November 2007. President Nasheed is keen to further expand the collection of books in the Library. In the field of Information Technology the Sri Lanka President spoke of the proposal to set up Tele Centres (Nanasala).

President Nasheed spoke of the close people-to-people contacts which have been established due to many Maldivians who have studied in Sri Lanka, and, those who still continue to have their education in Sri Lanka which has resulted in a close affinity between the two countries.

President Rajapaksa also called on the former President Gayoom. President Rajapaksa conveyed his best wishes to the former President and said that he would be remembered as a statesman who made a significant contribution to the Maldives and to the South Asian region.