Sweden pledges full support to SL to regain GSP+

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom has pledged to provide the Government of Sweden’s every possible assistance to Sri Lanka to regain the GSP+ facility.

She made these remarks when she met with President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday. She was on an official visit to Sri Lanka.

During the meeting, Sweden’s Foreign Minister and the President discussed in detail ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. President Sirisena took this opportunity to thank the Government of Sweden for the assistance given to date for development projects in Sri Lanka.

The President requested Sweden’s Foreign Minister to provide support for research activities in preventing kidney disease, which is spreading in Sri Lanka and Wallstrom pledged to provide Sweden’s assistance in this regard. She further said that already a special project has been implemented by the Uppsala University in Sweden and the Karolinska Medical Institute of Sweden with the collaboration of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.

The President requested the Swedish Foreign Minister to assist establishing vocational training centres to enhance opportunities for vocational training of  youth in the North and the East. He also called for help to develop training in the fields of education, fisheries and environment.

The President also invited Swedish investors to utilise investing opportunities available in Sri Lanka. He emphasised the government would provide required facilities in this regard.

The Swedish Foreign Minister commended the government’s program to fulfil its responsibilities during the post conflict period by ensuring the democracy and freedom of the people in Sri Lanka.