GL meets Sri Lankan heads of Missions in Asean capitals
June 3, 2010 03:57 pm
Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs made use
of his presence in Singaporeto participate in the Shangri-La Dialogue on security in the region, to have a
comprehensive discussion with Sri Lankan Heads of Mission in ASEAN capitals on priorities with
regard to their work in the next six months, The Ministry said in a statement.
Statement;
Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs made use
of his presence in Singaporeto participate in the Shangri-La Dialogue on security in the region, to have a
comprehensive discussion with Sri Lankan Heads of Mission in ASEAN capitals on priorities with
regard to their work in the next six months
Minister Peiris, in his remarks to the Heads of Mission,
emphasized the need to define objectives clearly and to work towards their
accomplishment within a specified period, to achieve optimal results.
Among the objectives stressed by the Minister were the fullest exploitation of
market potential in trade, investment and tourism, the promotion of scientific,
cultural and intellectual exchanges, while encouraging people to people
contacts, facilitating the protection of Sri Lanka’s political and security
interests, and the devising of strategies for a collective approach to ASEAN,
as well as individual bilateral approaches in respect of each member State.
Minister Peiris also touched on the energy sector, promotion of migrant labour
and knowledge transfer.
Those participating were Major General (Retired) Nanda Mallawarachchi,
Ambassador in Indonesia, Dr. D D Ranasinghe, High Commissioner in Malaysia, Mr.
Newton Gunaratne, Ambassador in Myanmar, Mr. Bennet Cooray, Ambassador in the
Philippines, Ms. J R Samarakone, High Commissioner in Singapore, Prof. J B
Disanayaka, Ambassador in Thailand, and Dr. K G Ivan Amarasinghe, Ambassador in
Vietnam.
The priorities identified for Indonesiawere investment, trade and tourism promotion. For Myanmar,
emphasis was placed on the promotion of Buddhist culture and tourism, as well
as the projection of Sri Lankaas a destination for higher education for Myanmar students.
The appropriate areas identified for The Philippines were increased training
opportunities for Sri Lankans at the International Rice Research Institute and
the ColomboPlanStaffCollege, especially in the information
technology and the vocational training fields, and systematic training
facilities for Sri Lankan migrant workers. For Thailand,
the objectives spell out were the promotion of Buddhist pilgrimages to Sri Lanka,
training facilities and the use of advanced technology in the field of gems and
jewellery, value addition for agricultural exports and higher education
opportunities for Sri Lankan students in universities like Chulalonkorn and
Thammasat. The main activity for Vietnam was follow up action after the recent
official visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City, and
in particular arrangements regarding the visit of a business delegation from
Vietnam to Sri Lanka. The priorities for Singapore were investment and
trade, and the securing of training opportunities for Sri Lankans in the fields
of law, IT, policy studies and technical disciplines.
For Malaysia,
in addition to foreign direct investment, the areas of IT services, logistics,
education, health services and the pharmaceutical sector were identified. In
response to the Minister’s invitation, each of the Heads of Mission made
presentations with the focus on a results oriented approach.
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