Boost for trade ties between KL and Colombo
COLOMBO: Trade ties between Malaysia and Sri Lanka will receive a boost following Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visit here.
The Prime Minister, who is on his first official visit to Sri Lanka, landed at Bandaranaike International Airport here at 8.40am (11.10am Malaysia time) yesterday.
Najib, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was greeted on arrival by Tilak Marapana, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Assignments.
The others present to greet the Prime Minister included the charge d’affaires at the Malaysian High Commission in Sri Lanka, Zainal Izran Zahari, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican.
Najib’s visit here marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Sri Lanka this year.
Today, Najib will be given an official welcome at the Presidential Palace.
This will be followed by a foureyed meeting between Najib and Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena.
A key agenda of Najib’s visit to Sri Lanka will be to further develop the proposal to set up a free trade agreement with Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is reportedly hoping to seek Malaysia’s assistance to set up a sectoral dialogue partnership with Asean.
News reports in the Sri Lankan capital said that Sirisena will raise the request to further develop his country’s ties with Asean during his meeting with Najib.
Sri Lanka is currently one of the members of the Asean Regional Forum.
Najib is also scheduled to witness the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoU) between the two governments and private companies.
He will be participating in a roundtable meeting between lea- ders from both countries to explore various areas of cooperation.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet the Malaysian diaspora in Sri Lanka and attend a luncheon hosted by Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe before leaving for the Maldives tomorrow.