The Maldives is seeking Sri Lanka’s support to develop its defence services.
The meeting between President Rajapaksa and Maldivian Defence Minister Col (Ret.) Mohamed Nazim was held at the Tourist Resort in the Kurumba Island.
The defence situation between the two countries was discussed at length during the bilateral discussions held between the President and the Maldivian Defence Minister. At this meeting the Maldivian Defence Minister sought from the Sri Lankan President the support to acquire knowledge, training and other facilities needed to the develop the defence services in the Maldivian State. He emphasized to President Rajapaksa the immediate need to fulfil the needs of several sectors within the Defence Services. Sri Lanka is already imparting military training to the Maldives.
In addition to the assistance provided in various areas including the training of soldiers, President Rajapaksa agreed to look into other requests and assist Maldives in whatever possible manner.
While thanking Sri Lanka for its support in developing Maldives’ defence sector, Col. Nazim appreciated Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s contribution. As two countries located in the Indian Ocean, he said this kind of cooperation will not only help each other but it will also help maintain stability in the region. The Defence Minister outlined some of the areas with which Maldives hopes Sri Lanka could assist, including search and rescue operations in the sea, disaster management, preventing sea pollution, education and training for Maldives soldiers.
Col. Nazim further said that Maldives has formed a special unit to protect the country from certain international forces attempting to destabilize nations. The Defence Minister requested Sri Lanka’s assistance in providing air combat training for this unit, to which President Rajapaksa agreed. The Maldivian Minister further requested to explore the possibility of Sri Lanka manufacturing boats for the Maldivian coast guard and sought assistance from the Bank of Ceylon to obtain credit facilities for this purpose.
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