Sri Lanka and Turkey to pursue shared economic interests and address common challenges such as, terrorism, at regional and multilateral platforms.
The countries will formalize a bilateral legal framework to further consolidate ongoing and potential areas of cooperation between the two countries in tourism, trade and investment, security, science and technology, culture and higher education sectors.
This was the out comes of bilateral consultations concluded in Colombo recently.
The consultations served to broadly review the ongoing and potential areas of cooperation between Sri Lanka and Turkey .
Both sides agreed to actively follow-up on the deliverables and review progress at the second session of political consultations earmarked for early 2020.
The head of the Turkish delegation and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Sedat Önal, commenting on the enduring bilateral ties, recalled Sri Lanka’s unique resilience in the face of adversity.
While reiterating Turkey ’s ready support in the process of recovery in Sri Lanka he expressed confidence in the country’s ability to recover fully from the Easter Sunday setback
.
Among the future activities identified, is a visit to Turkey by a delegation of Sri Lankan tour operators/travel agents followed by a visit to Sri Lanka by a high level and diverse Turkish business delegation to coincide with the bilateral Joint Economic Commission.
The first session of political consultations between Sri Lanka and Turkey was convened on 10 May 2019 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo .
A new roadmap for enhanced cooperation in prioritized sectors between Sri Lanka and Turkey was identified at the first formal session of bilateral consultations.
The head of delegation of Sri Lanka and Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, welcoming the Turkish delegation expressed Sri Lanka ’s appreciation for the support and solidarity extended to Sri Lanka by the Government and people of Turkey following the Easter Sunday attacks.
(LI)