Stop Selling Ourselves Short: Maldives Must Demand Its Equal Share in Colombo!

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As President Mohamed Muizzu prepares for his state visit to Sri Lanka from May 3 to May 5, 2026, at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, this moment must mark more than ceremonial diplomacy. It must mark a shift in posture. This is not a visit of dependence. It is a meeting between equals.



The visit comes amid plans to sign multiple agreements spanning trade, tourism, education, health, and defence cooperation, with both sides seeking to deepen ties built over more than six decades of diplomatic relations. But beyond signing memoranda and photo opportunities, lies a more important question: how does Maldives present itself?

For too long, Maldives has approached regional diplomacy with unnecessary restraint. But restraint, when misread, becomes weakness. And Maldives is anything but weak. It sits at the heart of vital Indian Ocean routes and commands one of the most lucrative tourism industries in the world.

Consider the numbers that rarely make headlines. According to one Sri Lankan expert, Sudesh Mendis, more than 21,000 Sri Lankans are employed in the Maldives, most within the Maldivian tourism sector. These Sri Lankan workers remit approximately $129 million annually back to Sri Lanka. This is not a marginal contribution—it is a steady economic lifeline for Sri Lanka.



At the same time, Sri Lankan businesses benefit from exporting goods and services to Maldivian resorts and companies, while airlines such as Sri Lankan Airlines profits from substantial travel between Colombo and Malé. Sri Lanka also gains from Maldivians spending in healthcare, education, and retail in Colombo. When that flow declines, the impact is immediate in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan estimates suggest that the drop in Maldivians residing there—from around 17,000 before 2019 to roughly 1,400 today—has resulted in a loss of about $100 million annually to their economy. This is not speculation. It is acknowledgment from their own side. Yet the narrative often presented is that Maldives depends on Sri Lanka. The truth is more balanced—and in some respects they depend on our economy more. Yes, Sri Lanka depends significantly on Maldivian economic activity, from employment and remittances to consumer spending. Even calls from Sri Lankan business leaders to increase remittance flows are, in essence, calls for greater access to the Maldivian economy.

That is leverage. And leverage must be understood before it can be used. At the same time, there are concerns that cannot be brushed aside. Maldivian officials, including Ambassador Masood Imad, have raised repeated complaints about visa difficulties and the treatment of Maldivians at Sri Lankan immigration. Reports of long delays and unequal prioritization raise legitimate concerns about dignity and reciprocity. If Maldivian economic strength financially allows us to live in foreign countries, then Maldivian citizens must receive fair and respectful treatment in return from such countries who benefit from our stay.

None of this calls for hostility. It calls for clarity. In Colombo, President Muizzu should convey a simple but firm message: Maldives is not merely a labour market or a passive destination for Sri Lanka s or any other foreigners. It is a strategic economic partner with real weight in the region. Cooperation must continue—but it must be balanced. 

This visit is also being watched beyond Colombo. Regional powers such as India, China and even Western powers such as the USA observe every signal. A confident Maldives reflects maturity and independence. A hesitant and weak looking Maldives invites miscalculation.

There is, in fact, a striking irony. Sri Lanka’s own business leadership has described Maldives as one of the world’s most unique and high-value destinations, with luxury resorts commanding prices as high as $7,500 per night. A nation that generates such global value should not approach diplomacy with hesitation. The strength is already there. What has often been missing is the willingness to project it.

Diplomacy is as much about perception as policy. During this visit—from May 3 to May 5—President Muizzu and his delegation must not appear as a group from a small state seeking favour. We must present ourselves as an equal: calm, confident, and fully aware of our worth.

For too long, the relationship has tilted in one direction, with Maldives functioning largely as an importer, a job provider, and a market for others to benefit from. That imbalance must now be addressed. 

This visit should make one principle unmistakably clear: Maldives will continue to cooperate—but it will also expect an equal share of the benefits. Not just as a destination. Not just as an employer. But as a partner that receives as much as it gives. Anything less is not partnership. It is dependency—and that is a posture Maldives should grow out of.

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