Senior officials from the Maldives and Sri Lanka gathered on Saturday to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of sports, with particular emphasis on athlete development and joint training initiatives.
The meeting, held at the Maldives’ Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, brought together Minister Abdulla Rafiu of the Maldives; Sri Lanka’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Sunil Kumara Gamage; and Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner to the Maldives, Thimuthu Sanjika Dissanayake.
Minister of Sports, Fitness, and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu met with the Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs of Sri Lanka, Mr Sunil Kumara Gamage, and the Acting Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Maldives, Ms. Thimuthu Sanjika Dissanayake.
In this meeting they engaged in discussions… pic.twitter.com/CY8LLXlsQe
— Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation (@MoSFR_mv) May 17, 2025
Central to the discussions was the establishment of an athlete exchange programme aimed at facilitating shared training experiences and expanding opportunities for sports development in both countries. The talks also explored avenues to strengthen various sporting disciplines in the Maldives, leveraging Sri Lanka’s technical expertise and long-standing support.
Sri Lanka has played a vital role over the years in nurturing Maldivian athletes by offering access to structured training programmes,both short-term and long-term. Sri Lankan coaches, who continue to contribute significantly to Maldivian sports academies, provide expert instruction and help elevate athlete performance across multiple disciplines.
The latest meeting marks a continued commitment from both nations to advance regional cooperation through sports and youth development.