The High Commission

The High Commission of Maldives in Sri Lanka is the first ever diplomatic mission of Maldives. The mission is established in Colombo, Sri Lanka and it was officially opened on 26 July 1965 upon independence.

However, even before the establishment of this diplomatic mission in Colombo, the Maldivian Government had representation in Sri Lanka, as the Maldives Representative Office, which was opened in Colombo on 4 March 1934. The First Maldivian Representative to Sri Lanka was His Excellency Abdul Hameed Didi who was appointed on 4 March 1934.

The Maldives Representative Office was then upgraded to an Embassy in the year 1954, by appointing His Excellency Mohamed Zaki as the first Ambassador of Maldives to Sri Lanka. He served for a brief period from 11 March 1954 to 07 May 1955.

The Embassy was closed down in 1976 and re-opened in 1979 after President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom assuming office in November 1978.

His Excellency Ahmed Abdulla was appointed as the Counsellor on 11 November 1979, and served as Minister Counsellor from 29 April 1984 to 15 November 1986. During his term, the Embassy was changed to a High Commission in the year 1985. His Excellency Ahmed Abdulla served as the First High Commissioner of Maldives to Sri Lanka from 15 November 1986 to 11 November 1993.

His Excellency Abdul Azeez Yoosuf was the longest serving High Commissioner of Maldives in Sri Lanka. His Excellency Abdul Azeez Yoosuf served as the Counsellor from 25 November 1993 to 27 February 1995, and as High Commissioner from 27 November 1995 to 09 October 2002.

On 16th October 2016, Maldives withdrew membership from the Commonwealth and changed to an Embassy.  However, on 1st February 2020, Maldives again re-joined the Commonwealth of Nations as the 54th member state and changed to a High Commission.

On 20th January 2019, His Excellency Omar Abdul Razzak was appointed by President His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih . His Excellency Omar Abdul Razzak presented the letter of credence to His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on 1st February 2019.

His Excellency Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed assumed his duties as the Acting High Commissioner on 13th June 2022.