Maldives and Sri Lanka Strengthen Bilateral Sports Cooperation

Officials from the Maldives and Sri Lanka met to deepen bilateral cooperation in sports, placing special emphasis on athlete development and improved training opportunities.

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

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— Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation (@MoSFR_mv) May 17, 2025

The discussions were held at the Maldives’ Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation and included the Maldivian Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu; 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.

A key topic of the meeting was the establishment of an athlete exchange programme aimed at facilitating joint training initiatives and expanding development pathways for athletes in both countries. The programme is expected to promote shared learning and strengthen competitive performance.

Officials also explored strategies to develop various sporting disciplines in the Maldives, with an emphasis on leveraging Sri Lanka’s technical expertise and continued support. For several years, Sri Lanka has contributed to the development of Maldivian athletes by providing structured short-term and long-term training opportunities.

Experienced Sri Lankan coaches remain involved in training programmes in the Maldives, offering specialised guidance that contributes to improved athletic performance at local academies.