President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in the Maldives on Sunday (26) to participate as a Chief Guest in a ceremony held in commemoration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Independence of the Maldives.His visit is being made at the invitation of Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen.

He was greeted on arrival at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport by Vice President, Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dunya Maumoon, Minister at the President's Office, Mohamed Hussain Shareef and Minister of Environment and Energy, Thoriq Ibrahim. Sirisena was also given an Honour Guard on arrival at the airport, by the Maldives National Defence Force.

The president is accompanied by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and other senior officials of the government.

The visit is Sirisena's first official visit to the Maldives. President Yamin had initially invited his Sri Lankan counterpart to make a visit at his earliest convenience in a congratulatory message sent to him following his victory at the January presidential elections.

He is expected to hold official talks with President Yameen during his visit before returning to the island nation on Monday.

(Xinhua)