Joint effort to combat terrorism

Manjula Fernando

MALDIVES: President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom laid the groundwork for an MoU to facilitate bilateral cooperation in combatting terrorism, yesterday.

The leaders of the two countries expressed the need for enhanced cooperation in countering terrorism through intelligence sharing and other means during extensive bilateral discussions in Male yesterday. President Rajapaksa will arrive in the country today concluding his two day state visit.

The discussions between the leaders centred on strengthening the existing bilateral cooperation as well as exploring new avenues to broadbase relations.

The key areas taken up were intelligence cooperation relating to terrorism as well as aviation, trade, fisheries, tourism, education, health, environment, immigration and emigration, consular issues, legislative reforms in the Maldives.

The leaders also recognised the need for close cooperation to achieve objectives of SAARC, in particular the operations of SAFTA.

The two leaders emphasised the need to diversify trade to non-traditional areas as well as utilise the potential that exists in the services sector, particularly the banking and financial services.

The Maldives Investment Services Bureau organised a business seminar with the participation of prominent business personalities from the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Both sides explored options for enhancing trade and investment between the two countries identifying a number of areas for improvement.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives signed two Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of Culture and Education.

The Maldivian Government appreciated the fact that Sri Lankan Institutions have been providing educational facilities to Maldivian students for decades. Sri Lanka reiterated its commitment to continue the assistance for the development of human resources in the Maldives and announced the granting of 14 full undergraduate scholarships, one in each university in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka also undertook to further simplify the visa procedure for Maldivian students.

The possibilities for collaboration in the proposed new medical school in the Maldives and the mobile health service were also explored.

Sri Lanka agreed to workout an arrangement whereby Maldivian nationals abroad could receive consular assistance through Sri Lankan Missions, where the Maldives is not represented in those countries. It was also agreed to provide multiple entry business visas for an extended period, for Maldivian business persons travelling to Sri Lanka.

The Maldivian side in principle agreed to exercise flexibility in providing fifth freedom rights via Male', to additional destinations for Sri Lankan flag carriers flying to and from the African continent and destinations in the sub-continent.

It was agreed that the civil aviation authorities of both countries will be meeting soon to discuss the technical details.

The Maldivian side appreciated the offer by Sri Lanka to conduct health camps in remote Maldivian island. Sri Lanka also offered training facilities in health related fields. In the field of ICTs, Maldivian side agreed to the Sri Lankan proposal to set up five (05) tele-centres (Nenasala) in the Maldives.

In addition, Sri Lanka reiterated its commitment to advocate regional and international partnerships for environmental protection.

The Maldives appreciated Sri Lanka for its support. It was agreed that the Joint Task Force on Tourism and the Sub-Commission on Fisheries, between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, would meet by end of May 2007.

Minister Bogollagama visited the construction site of the Central Library Building in Male, a gift from the Sri Lankan Government.

Both sides acknowledged that the Joint Commission mechanism established between the two countries provided a platform to comprehensively discuss pending bilateral issues. A review meeting of the Joint Commission will take place later this year.