The president, who is in Sri Lanka on a two-day official visit, made this announcement at a music show of Maldivian band, Olympians, held at the old Maldivian embassy compound in Colombo.

However, the coverage is available for those with a resident visa living in any country with an empanelled hospital of Aasandha.

During his first official visit to Sri Lanka late last year, president Waheed made a similar pledge to expand the Aasandha scheme to cover the Maldivians living in Sri Lanka "latest by next year". But it has not materialised so far.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa hosted president Waheed and first lady Ilham Hussain this morning for a breakfast meeting at the president’s house.

Following the meeting, president Waheed visited Maldivian patients at the Lanka Hospital. During the president’s visit, Lanka Hospital’s chief executive gave a presentation on the services available at the hospital.

Speaking to Sri Lankan media at the hospital, the president applauded the quality of service offered by the hospital.

According to the president’s office in Male, discussions with hospital officials were held on providing internship opportunities to Maldivian medical students. The officials also agreed to look into ways to solve the most urgent issues being faced by Maldivian patients, the office added.

The officials also spoke on the possibility of specialist visits to Maldives to work at the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male.