by Our Correspondent in Colombo
Sri Lanka and the Maldives are moving forward with plans to establish a dedicated commercial ferry service, aimed at reducing transport costs and facilitating the export of Sri Lankan goods to the Maldives, sources told the Sri Lanka Guardian. The initiative comes following the visit of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to Malé a few months ago, and ahead of a possible visit by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to Colombo in December.
According to reliable sources at Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Male, the ferry service would help tap into the Maldives’ vibrant tourism market, which presents strong demand for a variety of imported goods. Officials said a dedicated ferry could significantly lower shipping costs and create a more efficient trade channel between the two island nations.
However, shipping sources say that starting a dedicated ferry service would be challenging, as the journey from Colombo to Malé would take nearly 30 hours — a duration for which ferries are not typically operated. Sri Lanka serves as a central hub for transshipment to the Maldives, and several shipping lines already operate multiple feeder services.
While trade discussions progress, diplomatic relations remain complex. Maldivian visitors to Sri Lanka continue to face stringent security scrutiny, and the “country of security concern” (CSC) designation has complicated bilateral interactions. Previously, the Sri Lanka Guardian reported that during President Dissanayake’s visit to Male, Sri Lankan authorities had agreed in principle to ease CSC restrictions and address visa hurdles for Maldivians, though many of these promises are yet to be fully implemented. A source in Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized, “If actions remain silent, no matter the initiatives, the relationship cannot prosper. Both countries must work together with clear and fair policies to resolve lingering issues.”
Another source in Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance noted that foreign intelligence assessments in neighboring countries heavily influence the CSC designation, affecting trade and diplomatic ties. The source added that reviewing the underlying data could clarify bilateral relations, while acknowledging the sensitivity of addressing such issues.
Meanwhile, reliable sources in Male indicated that the Sri Lankan government had formally requested a state visit from President Muizzu, which was postponed earlier this year. There is now a possibility that President Muizzu may visit Colombo before the end of this year.
