Sri Lanka, EU to hold Joint Commission meeting today

Sri Lanka and the European Union (EU) will hold the 27th Session of the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission in Colombo today (12).

The high-level meeting will bring together senior officials from both sides to review and strengthen partnership across several areas including governance, human rights, trade, development cooperation, and other bilateral and regional priorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The Joint Commission will be co-chaired by Aruni Ranaraja, the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and Paola Pampaloni, the Acting Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The visiting EU delegation will also meet with senior Sri Lankan dignitaries to discuss collaborative approaches and concrete next steps to strengthen the ongoing partnership, the Ministry added.

Meanwhile, a discussion between the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Harshana Nanayakkara and representatives of the European Union has been held at the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.

The discussion was attended by Paola Pampaloni, the Acting Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific in the European External Action Service, EU co-chair of the Joint Commission, Carmen Moreno, EU Ambassador, Head of EU Delegation Colombo, Jan Hoskins, Acting Head of Unit Middle East/Gulf, Central Asia, South Asia, DG INTPA, European Commission, co-chair of the Working Group on Development Cooperation, Galija Agiševa, Head of Political Section/ Deputy Head of Delegation, EU Delegation Colombo, Ann Vanhout, Desk Officer for Sri Lanka, ASIAPAC.6 Division, European External Action Service, Johann Hesse, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation Colombo and Petros Theodorou, Desk Officer, DG INTPA, European Commission and senior officials of  the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.