Ambassador of SL pays courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon Zeina Akar

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Lebanon Shani Calyaneratne Karunaratne, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Defence Minister of the Republic of Lebanon Zeina Akar on 3 August, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the discussion, Ambassador Karunaratne, thanked Lebanon for the prompt assistance given by the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Labour, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation and the General Security on facilitating the repatriation of Sri Lankan migrant workers by the five charter flights to Sri Lanka. Ambassador Karunaratne also discussed the concerns of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Lebanon and regularising the visa over stayers in Lebanon. 

The Ambassador also conveyed that Sri Lanka hopes that all Lebanese political parties would resolve the ongoing political issues. The discussion also touched upon the formation of the new cabinet so that the pending agreements between Lebanon and Sri Lanka could be finalised.  

Ambassador Karunaratne recalled the Deputy Prime Minister Akar that Sri Lanka’s support for the Lebanese candidature in 2015 for UNESCO and requested reciprocal support for the candidature of Ambassador Mohan Peiris PC for the International Law Commission (ILC) for the term 2023-2027. Deputy Prime Minister Akar agreed to process the request.  

Deputy Prime Minister Akar thanked the Sri Lankan Government for the donation of Ceylon Tea and food rations for the victims of the Beirut explosion and assured other mutual cooperation in fostering bilateral relations in a multitude of fields. 

Ambassador Karunaratne was accompanied by Counsellor (E & W) Srimal Kahathuduwa, and Second Secretary (Labour) T. Luxmidharan.