On Tuesday, a pivotal meeting took place between Maldivian Parliament Speaker Mohamed Aslam and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, focusing on reinstating the training and staff exchange initiatives for the parliaments of both countries.
The Maldivian Parliament, in a recent statement, announced that this significant discussion occurred during Speaker Aslam’s formal visit to Sri Lanka, an invitation extended by Speaker Abeywardena.
In this notable gathering, Speaker Aslam expressed gratitude for the invitation and emphasized the long-standing amicable ties between Maldives and Sri Lanka.
It was noted in the meeting that both Speakers showed a keen interest in recommencing the joint training and staff exchange programs for their respective parliamentary secretariats. These programs had been previously suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, the Maldivian Parliament conveyed that Speaker Abeywardena praised the historical and robust diplomatic relationship shared between the two countries and their legislative bodies. He reassured that changes in government would not impact these strong bilateral ties.
Speaker Aslam also took this opportunity to invite Speaker Abeywardena to the Maldives, further strengthening their diplomatic engagement.
In addition to this meeting, Speaker Aslam’s ongoing visit to Sri Lanka included discussions with the country’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, currently the Acting Foreign Minister. In these discussions, both parties reiterated their countries’ solid diplomatic relations and explored various ways to enhance cooperation and collaboration for mutual benefit.