Sri Lanka-Singapore bilateral talks focus on expanding economic and defense relations

Monday, 4 August 2014 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Bilateral discussions that took place between Sri Lankan and Singapore recently focused on expanding economic relations and cooperation in defence and security spheres. Expansion of economic relations in the atmosphere of peace and stability prevailing in the country was the central focus when Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris met with his Singaporean counterpart K. Shanmugam, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Law in Singapore last week.

During the discussions, the Ministers took advantage of the opportunity to reflect on current developments in Sri Lanka and the region. The two Ministers discussed opportunities for investors from Singapore and across South East Asia in a variety of fields such as knowledge based industries, information technology parks, infrastructure and township development, the healthcare sector and water management resources. Prof. Peiris has expressed Sri Lanka’s wish to seek more employment avenues in the skilled category for Sri Lankan workers, an External Affairs Ministry statement said. The Foreign Ministers have noted the growing cooperation in the defence and security spheres between the two countries. They were convinced that the sharing of perspectives and expertise is contributing in substantial measure to curbing terrorism, transnational crimes and other security threats in the region. As a regular participant in the Security Summit, ‘The Shangri-La Dialogue,’ Sri Lanka has played a vigorous role in shaping the security architecture of the Asia-Pacific region. Minister Peiris appreciated the continuing cooperation of the Singaporean Government in the process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka and, in particular, in the vocational training and skills development area. He thanked the Government of Singapore for providing 40 short-term training opportunities last year to enhance the skills and knowledge of officials in the public sector.