Sri Lanka and South Africa to explore more avenues of cooperation

Secretary to the ministry of External Affairs Karunatilake Amunugama has stated that Sri Lanka and South Africa have had close cooperation both in terms of bilateral relations and multilateral interactions and in this context the two countries should explore more avenues of cooperation while diligently working on the areas that have already been identified.

Amunugama led the Sri Lanka delegation for the Fourth Session of the Senior Officials Meeting of the Sri Lanka South Africa Partnership Forum held on 21 May in Pretoria, South Africa. Deputy Director General and Addl. Secretary (Asia & Middle East) of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Anil Sooklal led the South African Delegation with South African High Commissioner Geoffrey Doidge in attendance.

The forum provided a constructive mechanism that enables Sri Lanka and South Africa to work together for the mutual benefit of its peoples. During the 4th Partnership Forum both sides emphasised that there is much more to be done and that the time is opportune to accelerate the process of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Secretary Amunugama and Deputy Director General Sooklal highlighted their government priorities, current socio-political and economic developments in Asia and Africa, respectively. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern including perspectives on Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Southern African Development Community (SADC), BRICS etc. Both sides noted with appreciation the continued and steady growth of bilateral relations between the two countries in recent years and the high level interactions which have provided the necessary impetus to strengthen and consolidate the existing ties. Further, both sides reviewed the progress on bilateral relations in the fields of trade, economy, science and technology, transport, tourism, agriculture, mutual legal assistance, education, tax revenue services, defence, water affairs and cultural exchanges. The twin city program between the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa and the Western Province of Sri Lanka, cooperation between respective Police Services and cooperation between zoological gardens, SANPARKS, wildlife, were among the other matters discussed. It was decided to conclude a bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries in the near future, when the Minister of Transport of South Africa visits Sri Lanka. Secretary Amunugama stated that historically, the part played by Sri Lanka in the international struggle against apartheid is the firm foundation for the flourishing bilateral relations between the two countries. He highlighted that the 5th Non-Aligned Movement Summit held in Colombo in 1976 saw a collective position taken against Apartheid.

The establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994, with the Post-Apartheid Government of President Nelson Mandela in South Africa could be considered as the most significant juncture in Sri Lanka’s relations with the African nations in the recent past.