Joint call by ASEAN Ambassadors on Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena

Ambassadors from ASEAN member countries made a joint call on Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 12 February at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.  

The Ambassadors recalled the longstanding friendship with Sri Lanka and expressed that they are keen to strengthen cooperation in to greater vistas. Minister Gunawardena welcoming the Ambassadors noted that ASEAN countries as close friends of Sri Lanka and underscored the importance of continuing the historical legacy of partnership that Sri Lanka have had with the ASEAN region and its people, in particular based on Buddhist linkages.  

Both sides further took note of the potential areas of cooperation and the importance of spearheading the Bilateral Consultations in 2020. 

ASEAN nations are Sri Lanka’s major trading partners. Sri Lanka has already started negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with ASEAN member states. Accordingly, Sri Lanka has recently signed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with Singapore in January 2018. Negotiations for a Thailand-Sri Lanka FTA began in the first quarter of 2018. 

FTA discussion processes are ongoing with other ASEAN member states including Malaysia and Indonesia. Total trade between Sri Lanka and ASEAN countries has increased significantly and amounted to about $ 3.7 billion in 2017. While taking note on the above facts, Minister Gunawardena noted that Sri Lanka is keen to finalise all pending agreements to increase economic engagement with the ASEAN countries.  

Minister Gunawardena emphasised that Sri Lanka is spreading out its hands to ASEAN and hope to look at niche areas to make a solid contribution to ASEAN activities. Moreover, Minister noted during discussions on the ways to increase connectivity with ASEAN countries through bilateral Agreements, regular Joint Commission Meetings with ASEAN member countries, develop engagement with ASEAN on sustainability, environment and Climate Change. 

Minister also noted on the importance of increased connectivity, defence and security cooperation with ASEAN countries.  

The meeting was attended by Ambassador of Viet Nam to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Pham Thi Bich Ngoc, Ambassador of Indonesia to Sri Lanka I Gusti Ngurah Ardiyasa, Ambassador of Thailand in Sri Lanka Mme. Chulamanee Chartsuwan, High Commissioner of Malaysia in Sri Lanka Yang Thai Tan and Ambassador of Myanmar in Sri Lanka Han Thu, Embassy officials, Additional Secretary P. Selvaraj, and Ministry of Foreign Relations South East Asia Division Acting Director General Nirmala Paranavitana.