The Governments of Maldives and Sri Lanka have exchanged agreements of cooperation during Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe's ongoing visit to the Maldives.
While the agreements were exchanged during a special ceremony held at the President's Office on Monday, it includes an agreement of facilitation of visa arrangement, an MoU on Higher Education and Water Sector Corporation and memoranda on social protection, and vocational training and youth development.
The agreement on the facilitation of Visa Arrangements will supersede the previous arrangement of 2008.
Under this renewed agreement, free 90-day on-arrival visas for visitors between the two countries will continue to be provided. Nationals of either country wishing to conduct business and pursue investments can be granted multiple entry non-resident business visas. Additionally, the agreement will also facilitate multiple entry visas for Maldivian students enrolled in Sri Lankan educational institutes, and for their parents and legal guardians provided the students in question are under eighteen years of age.
The MoU on Higher Education will expand education opportunities for students of both Maldives and Sri Lanka, whilst also sharing knowledge and expertise pertinent to the water sector.
The MoU on Social Protection between the two countries will promote cooperation between the two countries in terms of providing support to and protecting vulnerable members of society, including children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
The MoU on Vocational Training and Youth Development will increase knowledge and experience sharing pertinent to helping youth develop their social and leadership skills. This agreement will also facilitate cultural exchanges between the students of both countries and facilitate training for both countries’ academics.
Photo: President's Office
