DIPLOMATIC CORPS

REGIONAL COOPERATION

Former high commissioner Ranga Goonawardena highlights the opportunities for collaboration

Q: How did diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives evolve during your tenure as high commissioner?

A: Since assuming office as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Maldives in May and presenting my credentials to the President of the Maldives on 1 July, I worked to improve bilateral relations through focussed efforts in employment, trade, tourism and education.

Establishing the Sri Lanka-Maldives Business Council and Sri Lanka Friendship Forum in Maldives has strengthened social, cultural and economic ties between the nations, offering new platforms for collaboration.

Q: What are the main areas of collaboration between Sri Lanka and the Maldives?

A: The main areas of collaboration include tourism, trade, education and employment.

In tourism, both countries are working closely to attract high-end tourists through joint travel packages promoted by tour operators and airlines. And in employment, significant progress has been made in creating opportunities for Sri Lankan professionals especially in sectors like healthcare, education, engineering and hospitality.

Educational collaboration is growing with the recruitment of Sri Lankan teachers and initiatives to enable Maldivian students to study in Sri Lanka.

I foresee deeper cooperation in medical tourism, increased trade through bilateral agreements and continued knowledge exchange.

Q: Given the Indian Ocean’s geopolitical importance, how do Sri Lanka and the Maldives work together on regional security and maritime issues?

A: Sri Lanka and the Maldives share the responsibility of ensuring security in the Indian Ocean region, which is critical for global trade and regional stability.

Recently, both nations signed an agreement to establish the Colombo Security Conclave, a framework aimed at enhancing cooperation on maritime security, counterterrorism and disaster response.

This collaboration is vital for addressing threats such as piracy, illegal fishing and drug trafficking while ensuring that maritime routes remain secure.

Both countries also work closely through multilateral platforms like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to strengthen their collective response to security concerns.

Q: How is Sri Lanka collaborating with the Maldives on climate change?

A: As island nations, both Sri Lanka and the Maldives are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels and coastal erosion.

Our collaboration focusses on sharing expertise, and developing joint strategies for sustainability and disaster management.

Sri Lanka supports Maldivian initiatives aimed at addressing climate risks by contributing to knowledge exchange on environmental conservation and climate adaptation strategies.

Both nations advocate for stronger global action on climate change through international forums, emphasising the need for regional cooperation to mitigate these growing environmental challenges.

Q: What roles do Sri Lankan businesses and investors play in the Maldivian economy – and are there opportunities for expansion?

A: Sri Lankan businesses play an essential role in the Maldivian economy, particularly in sectors like construction, hospitality, finance, shipping and insurance. They have been key suppliers of construction materials and services to the resort sector, as well as providers of financial services and insurance to local businesses.

One of the key initiatives during my tenure was to establish the Sri Lanka-Maldives Business Council – the first of its kind – which aims to strengthen business collaborations and create new opportunities for growth.

Expansion opportunities exist in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), healthcare, real estate and hospitality with both nations benefitting from deeper trade relations.

Q: How has the Maldives’ tourism industry evolved in the context of visitors from Sri Lanka – and are there joint initiatives to promote travel between the two nations?

A: The Maldives’ tourism industry has grown steadily with increasing numbers of visitors from Sri Lanka – particularly in the luxury travel and business tourism segments.

Joint initiatives to promote travel include round trip packages offered by Sri Lankan and Maldivian tour operators and airlines, which encourage tourists visiting either country to extend their trips to both destinations.

These efforts, combined with the ease of travel and shared interests in medical tourism, are fostering a new era of cross border tourism between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Q: What are the main diplomatic challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Sri Lanka in its relationship with the Maldives, in your opinion?

A: The key diplomatic challenges for Sri Lanka involve navigating regulatory barriers, and aligning policies that promote free trade and investment protection. However, these challenges also present opportunities to build stronger ties in tourism, education and medical tourism.

Additionally, both nations face similar environmental challenges due to climate change, creating a unique opportunity for collaboration on sustainability initiatives.

The establishment of platforms like the Sri Lanka-Maldives Business Council will expand economic ties while security cooperation through frameworks like the Colombo Security Conclave ensures that both nations continue to play a pivotal role in regional stability.

CV IN A NUTSHELL

Ranga Goonawardena was the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Maldives until recently. With over 30 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, he has played a vital role in strengthening Sri Lanka-Maldives relations.

Prior to his diplomatic appointment, Goonawardena was the CEO of Macksons Properties where he led major developments such as Mandarina Colombo and Macksons Tower.

He holds an MBA from the International Institute of Cambodia.

FACT FILE

FAMILY
Married

SCHOOLING
D. S. Senanayake College

HIGHER EDUCATION
MBA – International Institute of Cambodia
Advanced Diploma in Management – International Professional Managers Association (International PMA) UK

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