The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the signing of a long-awaited agreement between Sri Lanka and the Maldives to strengthen mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters.

Although initial cabinet approval was granted in September 2022, the agreement had not been signed until now due to procedural delays.

The Maldivian Government has since given its consent, and Sri Lanka’s Attorney General (AG) has also cleared the draft.

The deal is expected to ease joint investigations and cross-border legal processes between the two countries, addressing long-standing challenges in criminal justice collaboration.

The proposal was presented by the Minister of Justice and National Integration.