The External Affairs Minister will pay an official visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka starting today till January 20 to further strengthen India’s existing ties with its key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region.
Notably, both the Maldives and Sri Lanka occupy a special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and ‘Neighbourhood First’.
Elaborating on the details, the Ministry of External Affairs said a wide range of bilateral agreements will be exchanged between India and the Maldives during EAM’s visit. The EAM is visiting India at the invitation of the Maldives’ Foreign Minister, Abdullah Shahid.
During the visit, a series of official dialogues will be exchanged between the two sides. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar will hold an official meeting with the Foreign Minister of Maldives to review bilateral cooperation progress, followed by the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding between both sides.
“EAM’s visit will see signing of agreements related to the bilateral development cooperation, ground breaking/ inauguration/ handing-over and launh of a number of key India-supported projects that will contribute to the socio-economic development of the Maldives,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
EAM Dr. S Jaishankar will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport Development Project. It is pertinent to note that India is supporting this project under concessional credit. The Airport Development Project aims to unlock northern Maldives’ true growth potential and transform the Maldives’ economy and people’s lives.
During his visit to the Maldives, EAM will inaugurate the Shaviyani Foakaidhoo Community Centre developed with Indian grant assistance and will also call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The last time EAM paid a visit to the Maldives was on March 20, 2022, to Addu City.
On the second leg of his two-nation visit, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar will further pay an official visit to Sri Lanka.
EAM’s visit to Sri Lanka comes at a critical time when the island nation is reeling under severe economic distress. Sri Lanka is looking forward to debt restructuring from New Delhi; earlier on Tuesday, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed the parliament that discussions with India and China on debt restructuring were successful.
On EAM’s visit to Sri Lanka, the MEA added, “During the visit, EAM will call on President H.E. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena and also hold discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. M.U.M. Ali Sabry on the entire gamut of a close India-Sri Lanka partnership and steps to strengthen it in all sphere.”
Notably, India has been at the forefront of extending economic assistance to Sri Lanka as per their requirements and is one of the countries that has provided the maximum amount of assistance to its neighbour at the time of need.
