SLMLBC Open Forum on Promoting Sri Lankan Education Institutes and Medical Facillities to the Maldives

In 2018, nearly 17,000 Maldivians were residing in Sri Lanka for education, medical treatment, and other purposes. By 2025, this number had declined significantly to approximately 1,500. The forum provided a timely platform to reflect on this decline, understand the underlying challenges, and identify practical measures to regain the lost market share.

The discussions were honoured by the participation of His Excellency M. R. Hassan, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Maldives, and His Excellency Masood Imad, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka, along with Mr. Sanjeewa Perera, President, and the Executive Committee members of the Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council.

The medical tourism session was joined by Dr. W. K. Wickremasinghe, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health, while the education tourism session was supported by Mr. C. Addarawatta, Director – Non-State Higher Education Division, Ministry of Education, Higher Education & Vocational Education, together with senior industry leaders representing both sectors.

The forums resulted in constructive and forward-looking dialogue, with a clear consensus on the need for close collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders. It was collectively agreed to work with relevant authorities and industry partners to reposition Sri Lanka as a preferred destination for Maldivian students and patients, and to sustainably rebuild this important bilateral market.