Sri Lanka and France renew commitment to deepen engagement in sports development

Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekara, who is on an official visit to France, met with his counterpart French Minister of Sports Thierry Braillard and had very fruitful discussions on developing a mutually beneficial partnership in the field of sports, the Government Information Department said.

it will encompass exchange of programs , skills, techniques, knowledge in sports and elite sports development projects, sports tourism, institutional cooperation and curricular development, training opportunities for physical education instructors etc.

A Memorandum of Understanding in this respect which is currently being discussed will also be concluded in early 2016 to renew the commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation on sports development.

“Sri Lanka places great importance in its longstanding bilateral relations with France. Both countries have made considerable efforts to engage each other in different areas of cooperation, including people to people exchanges. This renewed opportunity will enable our athletes, youths and agencies to have more prospects for collaborations with their counterparts in France. Through sports cooperation both countries will endeavor exchange and foster cross cultural learning and tourism,” a Government statement said.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to France Thilak Ranaviraja with Commercial Councilor Alexi Gunasekara had initial discussions with the Ministry of Sports and related bodies in France in enabling a robust partnership to be developed which will have a spillover effect into the other sectors such as youth, trade and culture.