Maldives and Sri Lanka Boost Sports Ties

Officials from the Maldives and Sri Lanka met on Saturday to strengthen sports cooperation between the two countries. The meeting took place at the Maldives' Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation.

Maldivian Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu and Sri Lankan Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage led the talks, joined by Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner to the Maldives, Thimuthu Sanjika Dissanayake.

A key highlight was the discussion of a new athlete exchange programme. This initiative will promote joint training and wider development opportunities for athletes from both countries.
The two sides also looked at ways to support different sports in the Maldives, using Sri Lanka’s deep experience and support in this field.

Sri Lanka has long helped Maldivian athletes through structured training programmes, both short- and long-term. Sri Lankan coaches continue to work closely with Maldivian sports academies to improve athlete performance through focused training and guidance.