Key agreements have been exchanged between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

The agreements were exchanged as part of Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid’s ongoing official visit to Sri Lanka, to attend the Maldives – Sri Lanka Joint Commission’s fourth session.

As such the signing ceremony, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, was witnessed by FM Shahid alongside his Sri Lankan counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka M.U.M. Ali Sabry.

The agreements signed on Wednesday include a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Maldives Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka, signed by High Commissioner of Maldives to Sri Lanka Ali Faiz on behalf of the Maldivian government and Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka Somarathne Vidanapathirana.

FM Shahid noted that the agreement will strengthen, promote and develop cultural cooperation between the two countries.

The second agreement is an MoU on the Field of Health Cooperation which is believed to contribute to enhanced collaboration between the two countries in the field.

The MoU was signed by Deputy Minister of Ministry of Health Shamau Shareef on behalf of the Maldivian government, with Additional Secretary (Medical Services) to the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka Dr. A.K. Sunil Bernard De Alwis signing on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka.

FM Shahid revealed that providing quality healthcare services is a priority for the Maldivian government.

Minister of State for Arts, Culture and Heritage Mohamed Thoriq and Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka Somarathne Vidanapathirana signed the third MoU, titled the MoU on Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Republic of Maldives”.

The Maldivian Foreign Minister noted that the agreement will provide the opportunity for both countries to cultivate and develop closer and stronger cultural relations, and to promote cooperation in the fields of heritage conservation, preservation and archaeology.

The agreements signed between the two countries on Wednesday aim to foster greater bilateral relations and cooperation in the field of cultural and health cooperation and people-to-people relations.