GL briefs SL envoys in Gulf region

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris met Sri Lankan ambassadors in the Gulf in order to provide an opportunity for intense interaction with Heads of Missions in those countries on objectives and priorities with regard to their work.

The regional workshop for Sri Lankan Missions in Middle Eastern countries was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

“The Minister referred to the importance of the region to Sri Lanka in terms of international collaboration and economic issues including trade, investment, employment opportunities and tourism,” the ministry said in a statement.

Quoting t he Minister, t he statement said t hat with Sri Lanka’s rapidly growing relationship with those countries in each of those fields, it was crucial to define targets with time frames and to have continuing assessment of progress.

Minister Peiris set out what the government expected from its Embassies in each of those countries within the next year and appropriate modalities to achieve those goals.

MP Namal Rajapaksa

With Sri Lanka’s rapidly growing relationship with those countries in each of those fields, it was crucial to define targets with time frames and to have continuing assessment of progress.

participated in the roundtable discussion with the envoys.

Dr. Mahinda Balasuriya, Ambassador in the United Arab Emirates, A.S. Nakandala, Ambassador in Iraq, M.F. Razeen, Ambassador in Iran, Gamini Rajapaksa, Ambassador in Jordan, Jayantha Palipane, Ambassador in Qatar, and Sarath Wijesinghe, Ambassador in Israel, made presentations in respect of their work. This was followed by a discussion of strength and challenges, and the way ahead.

A systematic programme for implementation of the proposals made was formulated. The discussion centered on an overview of activities carried out by each of the Missions, as well as labour and employment promotion and consular issues, the statement added.