Singapore, Sri Lanka see ‘immense potential’ for further expanding bilateral cooperation

Tuesday, 24 February 2015 01:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Singapore yesterday reaffirmed its interest to continue and further expand the robust bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka when the visiting Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law of Singapore K. Shanmugam met with his Sri Lankan counterpart Minister Mangala Samaraweera in Colombo. Shanmugam, who is on a two day visit to Sri Lanka from 23 to 24 February, characterized Singapore’s relations with Sri Lanka as a friendship that was “constant.” The visit, marking the first high-level interaction of the Singapore Government with the new Sri Lankan Government, since it assumed office last

month, “demonstrates the keenness of Singapore to reinforce and reaffirm the continuity of the close and robust bilateral relations between the two countries,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement Monday. Minister Samaraweera welcoming his Singaporean counterpart expressed Sri Lanka’s sincere appreciation for Singapore’s steadfast support for the country’s reconciliation process, which was among the top priorities of the new Government in its 100 day work programme. “As two countries that have sought to model their economies and societies on the progress achieved by the other at different stages of their development history, the visiting Minister commended the initiatives of the new Government on national reconciliation and revitalization of the democratic processes in the country, including the credibility and stability of its institutional framework,” the statement said. Minister Shanmugam has noted that there was immense potential for further expanding bilateral cooperation and enlisting Singapore’s investment in thrust areas such as urban planning, warehousing, low cost housing, public management and capacity building, among others. During the visit, Minister Shanmugam will be hosted to a breakfast meeting by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. He will also meet with the Governor of the Central Bank, Arjuna Mahendran, for discussions on issues of mutual interest.