The official welcoming ceremony for the President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who arrived in Sri Lanka on a State Visit at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, was held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Dissanayake.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is undertaking this State Visit with the objective of further strengthening economic, cultural and social ties between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, as well as enhancing the multifaceted partnership between the two countries.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed were escorted to the Presidential Secretariat premises with a Police Mounted Escort, following which they were ceremonially received with full honours by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Following the playing of the national anthems of both countries, the official welcoming ceremony commenced.
On this occasion, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was accorded a ceremonial gun salute with full State honours. Thereafter, the President of the Maldives inspected the Sri Lanka Armed Forces Guard of Honour.
Subsequently, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake exchanged courtesies, following which members of the Maldivian and Sri Lankan State delegations were introduced.
Representing the Government of the Maldives were Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam; Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Transport Mohamed Saeed; Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources Ahmed Shiyam; Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan; Chief of Staff to the President Abdulla Fayaz; Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef; High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol Mohamed Shahudy; Social Secretary to the First Lady Khadeeja Nashwa; Deputy Under Secretary to the President Mohamed Hassaan; and Personal Director to the First Lady Lubaba Ali.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando; Minister of Science and Technology Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih; Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha; Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, South-East Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala; and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives Mohamed Rizvi Hassen.
[President’s Media Division (PMD)]