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Saturday, 17 December 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdul Razak gesture during
discussions
Malaysia is ready to explore new investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdul Razak has assured Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena during the latter’s official visit, when both leaders had wide ranging discussions on development and investment opportunities for Malaysian companies in Sri Lanka, the President’s Office said in a media statement yesterday.
President Maithripala Sirisena, who is currently on an official tour to Malaysia, held bilateral discussions with the Malaysian Prime Minister Abdul Razak at his office on Friday.
Five agreements were signed by the two leaders, including on foreign employment, youth development, tourism, culture and agriculture.
During the meeting, President Sirisena noted that he aimed to foster reconciliation among communities in the country, and to create a stable and economically developed Sri Lanka.
He further said that the Government is committed to strengthening the reconciliation process and to create stable economic development; the Government is taking the assistance of friendly countries in the world.
President Sirisena said the new agreements signed would pave the way to create new relations between the two countries in the fields of tourism, education, foreign employment and agriculture. The President also called on the Malaysian Prime Minister to introduce a new scheme to expand the educational opportunities for Sri Lankan students to study in Malaysia.
The President recalled his previous visit to Malaysia, nine years ago as the Minister of Agriculture, and said that during that tour the progress made by Malaysia in the field of Agriculture had impressed him deeply, adding that his Government expects the technical assistance of Malaysia to develop the Sri Lankan agricultural industry.
The Malaysian Prime Minister stated that the program for coexistence and reconciliation in Sri Lanka has drawn the attention of the entire world. “It is the objective of Malaysia to enhance the investment and trade opportunities in every sector in Sri Lanka,” he said. He also stated that Malaysia is always ready to assist investment in education.
The Prime Minister pointed out that Malaysia has more opportunities for technical training. He also said Malaysia is ready to help Sri Lanka in that regard.
The two leaders also discussed enhancing tourism between the two countries.
The Malaysian Prime Minister thanked President Sirisena for visiting Malaysia by accepting his invitation.
President Sirisena added the visit marked a historic point, as it was the first time Malaysia had made an official invitation to a Sri Lankan leader in 19 years. He also thanked the Government of Malaysia for its invitation.
The President further stated that Sri Lanka will celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Malaysia. He also invited the Malaysian Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera, Deputy Minister of Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara, Deputy Minister of Cultural affairs Palitha Thevarapperua and the former Mayor of Colombo A. J. M. Muzammil also participated at the meeting.
