Officials from the Maldives and Sri Lanka convened on Saturday to advance bilateral collaboration in sports, focusing on athlete development and expanded training opportunities.
Discussions at the Maldives' Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation brought together Maldives' 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.
One of the primary areas of focus was the creation of an athlete exchange programme, designed to facilitate joint training initiatives and broaden development opportunities. Officials also examined ways to strengthen various sporting disciplines in the Maldives, drawing on Sri Lanka's technical expertise and longstanding support.
For years, Sri Lanka has played a key role in assisting Maldivian athletes, providing access to structured short-term and long-term training programmes. Experienced Sri Lankan coaches, integral to this effort, continue to refine athlete performance through specialised instruction at Maldivian academies.