Sri Lanka, Zambia agree to consolidate bilateral ties

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Zambia, resident in South Africa Anuruddha Kumara Mallimaratchi presented Letters of Credence to President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Zambia, at a Ceremony held on May 3 at the State House in Lusaka, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

While conveying warm wishes from President Maithripala Sirisena to the President and the People of Zambia, Mr. Mallimaratchi expressed his desire to enhance ties between the two countries. High Commissioner Mallimaratchi stated that Sri Lanka had obtained accreditation status in the African Union in 2014 as a non-african State in order to enhance cooperation between Sri Lanka and the African region. He also said that a draft text of the Agreement on Cooperation between Zambia and Sri Lanka had been exchanged with Zambian authorities while a draft MOU on Military Training and Cooperation between Sri Lanka and Zambia was being negotiated.

The Zambian President extended a warm welcome to High Commissioner Mallimaratchi and stated that the two countries are closely knit by common goals of sustainable development, stability and peace as enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

President Lungu said that Zambia and Sri Lanka had enjoyed warm relations over the years since the establishment of diplomatic ties. He said that the Government of Zambia had committed to further consolidate relations with Sri Lanka and ensure that both Zambia and Sri Lanka engage in meaningful cooperation in the areas of agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing and other sectors of mutual interest. He said that Zambia commiserates with Sri Lanka and joins the International community in condemning the recent bombings on churches and hotels in which innocent lives were lost and hundreds wounded.