Male, Jan 20 (IANS): Maldives President Abdulla Yameen will Tuesday begin a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, his first tour to that country since assuming office, in an effort to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance business and investment ties between the two countries.

Yameen, along with his wife Fathimath Ibrahim, will visit Sri Lanka Jan 21-23 on the invitation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a statement from the Maldives president's office said here Sunday.

During the visit, President Yameen will hold one-to-one deliberations with President Rajapaksa on charting the future course of Maldives-Sri Lanka ties.

This will be Yameen's second foreign visit after assuming the president's office. His previous tour was to India.

An official welcoming ceremony will be held at the president's secretariat in Colombo. President Rajapaksa and his wife Shirathi Rajapaksa will host Yameen for a state luncheon at the president's house.

The Maldives president will be joined by a high-level delegation that will include senior party leaders and ministers, the statement said.

During his stay in Sri Lanka, Yameen will also meet the Maldivian community in the country. He will also meet selected members of the Sri Lankan cabinet.

A business forum organised by the Sri Lankan-Maldivian Business Council will also be held as part of President Yameen's visit. The forum will discuss ways to enhance business and investment ties between the two countries.