Swedish Foreign Minister in town

Sweden’s Foreign Affairs Minister Margot Wallström

Sweden’s Foreign Affairs Minister Margot Wallström arrived yesterday on an official visit to Sri Lanka until 26 April at the invitation of her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera. 

Minister Wallström will hold official bilateral discussions with Minister Samaraweera today morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two ministers will make remarks to the media at the conclusion of bilateral discussions at 11.00 a.m. at the ministry. 

During the visit Minister Wallström is expected to call on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and also meet with the Speaker of Parliament. 

A seven-member trade delegation comprising leading Swedish companies Ericsson, Volvo, ABB, SAAB, Scania, AXIS Communication and Icomera is accompanying the Swedish Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka.  

A high-level “Business Round Table discussion” will be held on 25 April with the participation of Swedish companies at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, in cooperation with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. This interactive session is aimed at encouraging stronger business links between the two countries. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Harsha de Silva and Minister Wallström are expected to address the event. 

The Foreign Minister of Sweden will visit Jaffna on 26 April where she will meet the Governor and Chief Minister of the Northern Province and the District Secretary of Jaffna. She will also meet with civil society, visit an IDP welfare camp and visit the Maravanpulo SDC Housing Project.

Being a strong advocate of women’s rights, Minister Wallström is scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies(LKIIRSS) on 25 April on the topic of the ‘Role of Feminism in Foreign Policy: Sweden’s Feminist Foreign Policy ”. 

The visit is expected to contribute towards renewing relations between the two countries and enhancing opportunities for trade cooperation. 

Minister Wallström had served in Sri Lanka from 1998-1999 as the Executive Vice President of the Worldview Global Media.