<span style="color: #222222;">The Maldives has said it will strengthen defence cooperation with Sri Lanka and other countries in the region to tackle global terrorism.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">This was stated by Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shaheed when he met Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last evening during his two-day visit to Colombo.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Minister's comments assume significance as a few Maldivian nationals were arrested after Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Sri Lankan Prime Minister said that many Maldivians were living in Colombo and added that some extremists are continuing with terror activities while consolidating their security among the residents.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister emphasized that it is important for the two countries to share the specialist knowledge on the matter to curb the situation. Mr. Wickremsinghe said the revolutionary upsurge of the Muslim youth is a trend in both Sri Lanka and the Maldives.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Maldives has been a hotbed of IS ideology as over 100 people were believed to have travelled abroad to join the fight for Islamic state. </span>