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Monday, 23 October 2017 01:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Sri Lankan Government has received Cabinet approval to enter into several agreements with Qatar to cooperate in the energy, water supply and waste management sectors as well as with diplomatic training and research.
President Maithripala Sirisena
The agreements are expected to be signed during President Maithripala Sirisena’s official visit to Qatar this week.
The Government is of the view that since Qatar is a major country producing petroleum and natural gases in the Gulf region it is of paramount importance to cooperate with the rich Gulf state in accomplishing future challenges in the energy sector of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Arjuna Ranatunga have jointly proposed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the energy sector between Sri Lanka and Qatar.
Sri Lanka and Qatar have also agreed to enter into an MoU on bilateral cooperation in the fields of water supply and waste water management.
Under this project, Qatar has come forward to extend its cooperation for the Town South of Puttalam Water Supply Project proposed to be implemented covering the Divisional Secretariat divisions of Pallama, Arachchikattuwa, Mahakumbukkadawala and Mundalama in the District of Puttalam and the Waste Water Management Project proposed to be implemented for the coastal areas of the Ampara District.
A proposal made by Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem to sign the MoU during the President’s visit to Qatar was approved by Cabinet.
Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Qatar were established in 1976 and subsequently those relations have been strengthened in various fields.
In a move to further strengthen relations between the two countries, it has been proposed to enter into a new MoU on cooperation in the fields of diplomatic training and research between the ministries of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and Qatar in order to jointly conduct diplomatic training, research and academic programs.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Thilak Marapana’s proposal to sign the MoU during the President’s visit has received the approval of the Cabinet.
President Sirisena is expected to make a two-day official visit to Qatar on 25 and 26 October.
The visit will see Sirisena holding discussions with his Qatari counterpart with a view to improving bilateral ties between the two countries.
The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani, who was on a South Asia tour, visited Sri Lanka briefly in March 2015 on the invitation of President Sirisena.
During the visit, the Emir of Qatar, accompanied by a high-level delegation, held bilateral consultations with the Sri Lankan President.
During the discussions, the Qatari leader had pledged financial assistance to resolve the drinking water problem of those in the north and east of Sri Lanka. The Qatari Government has also expressed its willingness to support gas and oil exploration activities in Sri Lanka.
