by Zacki Jabbar in the Maldives

 The Maldives was prepared to do "anything under the sun" for Sri Lanka, the country’s President Mohammed Nasheed said.

Speaking to The Island, after declaring open the Maldives Construction Fair 2009 in Male earlier this week, he said that the Maldives considers Sri Lanka to be a true friend and was prepared to go to any length, in strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation.

Asked if the Maldives was pursuing a Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka, he replied "we are open to anything under the sun."

Nasheed said that his government has thrown open its doors to foreign investors, so that an ambitious development programme that has been set in motion, could be speedily completed.

Funding he said would also be secured through bilateral and multilateral agreements. "Eight international companies have confirmed their interest in developing our transport system. There is room for many more."

The Sri Lankan companies and organizations that participated in MCF 2009, included True Value Products Private Limited, Alpha Industries, Bluescope Lysaght Lanka, Buddhika Marketing, Chevron Lubricants Lanka, Enviromec International, Delmege Interior Décor ,Development Interplan (Ceylon),Eco Homes Lanka, Elcardo Industries, Euro Tiles Specialized Marble & Granite Contractor, Fairway Condominiums, Foster and Reed, GTA Refrigeration (Pvt) Ltd, H.E. Engineering ,Iceman Technologies, International Construction Consortium, Isuru Engineering, Lafarge Cement, Lanka Corrugated Industries, Mazda Plastic Lanka, Novel Investments, R.M.I. Steel Building Systems, True Value Products, Tritech Engineers , V.V.K. Alucon Industries, the Sri Lanka - Maldives Bilateral Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Trade Commission.