President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Anura Kumara Disanayaka, was formally welcomed to the Maldives on Monday with a grand ceremonial reception held at Republic Square.

President Disanayaka was received by Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu upon arrival at the ceremony. The event featured a traditional cultural performance by school students, followed by a 21-gun salute by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The national anthems of both Sri Lanka and the Maldives were played as part of the official proceedings.

President Disanayaka then inspected the Guard of Honour, marking the formal beginning of his first state visit to the Maldives since taking office in September 2024.

The Sri Lankan President arrived in the Maldives earlier on Monday morning. During the visit, he will hold official talks with President Muizzu to further strengthen bilateral ties, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring nations.