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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is on an official tour in Maldives met the President of Republic of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom yesterday and explored the possibility of promoting tourism as a joint effort of Maldives and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka expressed its interest to make use of experience of Maldives on the subject to develop its tourism industry, a press release said. A decision has been made to set up a Joint Task Force by Sri Lanka and Maldives to promote tourism industry in both countries.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe poses during a meeting with Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom yesterday in the Maldivian capital Male. AFP

The two leaders agreed that the Task Force would be immensely beneficial to both countries and therefore, decided to take prompt steps to initiate it, the release said.

A team comprising of high officials of the government of Maldives would soon visit Sri Lanka to study "Regaining Sri Lanka", the development programme introduced by the Government under the guidance of the Prime Minister in order to accomplish speedy development. The objective of this study would be to identify areas in which Sri Lanka and Maldives could work in co-operation for better results.

The two leaders agreed that such an action plan would be successful and would benefit both countries in more ways than one. Once these areas are identified a team of Sri Lankan officials would visit Maldives to negotiate the aspect of implementation of this action plan.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe thanked the President and the People of the Republic of Maldives for their support at the initial stage of the peace process. Wickremesinghe said allowing LTTE Theoretician Dr. Anton Balasingham to come to Sri Lanka via Maldives to initiate peace negotiation between the Government and the LTTE was an invaluable service rendered by Maldives.

President Abdul Gayoom reminded the Prime Minister that relations between Sri Lanka and Maldives has a history of over one hundred years. The President further said that he visited Sri Lanka in 1998 to participate in SAARC Conference and subsequently; President Kumaratunga visited Maldives in 1999. He further said that every one of these visits contributed to strengthening of bilateral relations. This official tour of the Prime Minister Wickremesinghe is also an indication of the aspiration both countries uphold to enjoy strong bilateral relations.

Even before the first round of peace negotiations began, Maldives had invited both parties to use Maldives as the venue for peace talks. President Gayoom said that his invitation is valid even for the future and pledged fullest co-operation of Maldives to the peace process.

He thanked the Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and the Government for initiating the peace process to put an end to the North-East conflict and bring about lasting peace and wished all success to the peace efforts. The leaders briefed each other on trade, business, education and development programs.

The Sri Lankan delegation comprised of Lal Gamage, Minister Assisting Foreign Affairs, Bradman Weerakoon - Secretary to the Prime Minister, Saman Athaudahetti - Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister and Sarala Fernando - Director General of South Asia and SAARC Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Maldives T.Z.A. Samsudeen.