President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has told President Rajapaksa that they fully support Sri Lanka.
The Maldivian President and his entourage who arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday on a three-day official visit met President Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. The President accorded a warm welcome to the Maldivian President and the First Lady at the Presidential Secretariat. A special Military Guard of Honour was held in honour of President Yameen. First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa also joined in the welcoming ceremony.
After a cordial discussion between the two leaders, the delegations of the two countries commenced bilateral discussions covering several spheres. President Rajapaksa expressed his appreciation over the victory achieved by the Maldivian leader in the Presidential elections held in November last year and the peaceful political transformation that took place in the country. President Rajapaksa was optimistic that prosperity would reach the Maldivians under the prudent guidance of President Yameen.
Expressing his views President Yameen pointed out that the Maldivians feel Sri Lanka is their second home. More than 9000 Maldivians are currently living in Sri Lanka. He claimed that Sri Lanka was always a friend and a colleague. The Sri Lankan and Maldivian leaders discussed at length several fields including the fisheries industry, higher education, health and tourism.
Three agreements were signed after the bilateral talks. Minister Dulles Alahapperuma and the Maldivian Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon inked a Memorandum of Understanding on Vocational Training and Youth Development. The MOU in the sports sector was signed by Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and the Minister of the Maldivian President’s Office Mohamed Hussein Shariff. Inspector General of Police N.K. Ilangakoon and the Maldivian Police Commissioner Husaid Waheed signed the MOU related to crackdown on Crime. Many Parliamentarians were present on the occasion. After the talks and the signing of the agreements, the Maldivian President signed the guest book.
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