Maldives & Sri Lanka Strengthen Ties and Plan Development in the Fisheries Sector

As highlighted on the Daily FT news website on 30th December 2022, the Maldives and Sri Lanka discussed ways in which the fisheries sector could be strengthened between the two neighbouring nations. This meeting was held at the President’s Office of the Maldives in the capital, Male, and was attended by Dr. Dulan Hettiarachchi, Sri Lanka’s Cey-Nor Foundation Chairman and Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan, the Maldives Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Minister.

Functioning under Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Fisheries, the Cey-Nor Foundation is set to provide tourist and fishing vessels to the Maldives; it was additionally discussed that through investors in the Maldives, a joint vessel construction project would also begin between the two countries. Interestingly, apart from commercial purposes, fishing has also become a popular tourist activity in the Maldives; luxury hotels and resorts on private islands here such as Adaaran Club Rannalhi offer traditional fishing excursions which make for a captivating experience for visitors.