Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour, after India, is the cluster of tiny islands known as the Maldives. The cluster comprises of one thousand one hundred and ninety islands of which about two hundred are inhabited. Only a mere one thousand kilometres of ocean lie between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The two countries have shared close ties throughout history. Some of the Maldives earliest settlers are thought to have come from its larger island neighbour. Maldivian legend tells a tale of a Sinhalese prince, who was stranded with his bride in a Maldivian lagoon and went on to rule as the first sultan.
The end of a thirty plus year civil war saw a sharp increase in investment in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s largest conglomerates also began to expand their business beyond the country’s shores. The island formerly known as Ceylon, has a long standing reputation for producing and exporting some of the world’s best tea. In recent years, Sri Lanka, has taken another of its main industries to the global playing field. Market leaders in tourism have purchased properties or taken over the management of hotels in the Maldives and India; the John Keells Group, a blue chip company, being one of them. It has made its presence felt across the board in Sri Lanka; from information technology solutions and real estate to manufacturing food and beverages and owing one of the largest supermarket chains. The group currently owns three hotels in the Maldives.
Maldives is known for its stunning over water pavilions, pristine beaches and clear tropical ocean views. The leisure sector promotes beach holidays along with world class spa facilities, dining venues and beach activities. Its economy hinges on the income from tourism, fishing and construction but mainly relies on foreign currency generated through tourism.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.