Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardane and Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom Sir Philip Barton have held conversations at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The Ministry pointed out that positive bilateral engagement has actually taken place in the 75th year of UK-SL diplomatic relations.Foreign Secretary Wijewardane has briefed the UK Permanent Under-Secretary on existing advancements in the nation and the Governments plans for 2023 as a year of socio-economic stabilization, reconciliation and recovery.
Sir Philip Barton encouraged Sri Lankas efforts and repeated the assistance of the UK in this regard, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.In view of the concern placed by Sri Lanka on economic recovery and development, Foreign Secretary highlighted the significance of Sri Lankas economic collaboration with the UK, under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) which supplies duty-free access to the UK market, as well as in other sectors such as enhancing UKs contribution to Sri Lankas tourist and competent labour migration.
Thus, the two sides have valued the prospective to further broaden trade and financial investment ties, including reaction to climate change goals, and in accomplishing Sri Lankas target of accomplishing 70% renewable energy by 2030.
Both sides repeated their mutual interest to start a Sri Lanka-- UK Dialogue in the first quarter of 2023, with a view to raising the existing diverse engagement and working towards attaining concrete outcomes through a result-oriented method on a number of areas of mutually useful cooperation, the pertinent ministry stated further.Foreign Secretary Wijewardane and the Permanent Under Secretary of the FCDO have actually likewise valued the dynamic people-to-people ties originating from the significant neighborhood of Sri Lankan heritage in the UK.
Foreign Secretary Wijewardane apprised the Permanent Under Secretary on the Governments intent to additional engage with the overseas Sri Lankan community to much better harness their synergies for shared advantage.
It has been agreed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of UK-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations this year in a manner reflective of the enduring relations in a positive and result-oriented way, it added.In an exchange of views on regional and worldwide advancements, Foreign Secretary Wijewardena briefed the Permanent Under Secretary on Sri Lankas policy top priorities in Indian Ocean engagement, along with the countrys assumption of the Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) this year.During the check out, the Permanent Under Secretary Sir Barton called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, the State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and the Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayaka, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Sir Philip Barton was accompanied by the British High Commissioner Sarah Hulton and officials of the British High Commission and the UK FCDO.
Senior authorities of the Foreign Ministry also participated in the meeting, it said.