INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
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
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.
