Consultations between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan | Sunday Observer

Consultations between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan

11 April, 2021
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Afghanistan Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ashraf Haidari sign the MoU
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Afghanistan Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ashraf Haidari sign the MoU

An MoU on the setting up of a political consultation mechanism between the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan was signed recently.

The MoU which provides for regular engagement and partnership between the two South Asian countries was signed by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Afghan Ambassador in Colombo Ashraf Haidari.

Under the MoU, the two countries expressed confidence that the Sri Lanka–Afghanistan bilateral partnership will grow further through active facilitation by both Foreign Ministries, thus enabling a yearly review of the whole gamut of bilateral relations.

This would cover areas such as political, economic, security, culture, health, social, people-to- people contacts and other areas of common interest including regional cooperation.

With this MoU, Sri Lanka completes the setting up of bilateral instruments of Political Consultations or Foreign Office Consultations with all countries in South Asia. The MoU is an important bilateral instrument in the 63-year history of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to further enhance bilateral relations and to hold the inaugural session of the Political Consultative meeting at a mutually convenient time in the near future. Close cooperation in economic and trade matters and connectivity with neighbours, and Members of the SAARC remains Sri Lanka’s foremost economic diplomacy goal.

Both sides underscored the high potential areas for bilateral trade, including tea, gem and jewellery, dry fruits, nuts and cereal and highlighted that direct air connectivity would provide both countries to have closer cooperation in tourism, cultural and social engagements.

State Minister for Regional Cooperation, Tharaka Balasuriya, Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, and officials of the Afghan Embassy in Colombo and Foreign Ministry were present.

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