The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has concluded his official visit to the Maldives.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and his delegation departed from Velana International Airport this morning after a productive visit.

During his visit to the Maldives, the Prime Minister engaged in one on one discussions with the Maldivian President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and senior officials from the Maldivian and Sri Lankan Government.

The Prime Minister and President presided over an agreement exchange ceremony formalizing the Maldives’ and Sri Lanka’s increased cooperation in the fields of higher education, social cooperation and youth development.

One of the most notable agreements signed during the visit is the renewed agreement on Visa arrangement, which will make it easier for business entrepreneurs from both countries to travel to the other for business purposes, and facilitate multiple entry visas for the parents and legal guardians of Maldivian studying in Sri Lanka.

Following the agreement exchange ceremony, the President Solih and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe delivered a Joint Press Statement recapitulating the main areas of collaboration between Sri Lanka and the Maldives highlighting the friendly ties that have always endured between the people of the two countries.

As part of his visit, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister also chaired the 4th edition of the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), which commenced at Paradise Island Resort yesterday, inviting senior dignitaries from across the Indian Ocean Region to deliberate on the main security threats and challenges confronting the region.