Special Representative of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa visits Oman

Special Representative of Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, State Minister of Finance, Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal visited the Sultanate of Oman from 7-10 April carrying a special message from Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed to Sultan of Oman Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.

The visit also coincides with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Sultanate of Oman which falls this year.

State Minister Cabraal handed over the Prime Minister’s special message to Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said who is the Personal Representative of the Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Friday, 9 April.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Sultanate of Oman Ameer Ajwad accompanied the State Minister. During the audience, ways and means to further enhance bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat organised series of meetings for the State Minister Cabraal and the accompanying 10 member Sri Lankan delegation from the Central Bank, State and private banks of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka delegation led by State Minister Cabraal met with Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman Qais bin Mohamed Al Yousef and discussed on a range of areas for mutual economic cooperation including trade and investment between the two countries. 

The delegation also met with Undersecretary for the Ministry of Finance Abdullah Al Harthy, Chairman of the Tax Authority Sai Nassir Al-Shukaily, Deputy Chairman of Oman Investments Authority (OIA) at the Ministry of Finance of Oman and explored areas of synergies for bilateral collaboration between the two countries. 

Ambassador Ameer Ajwad, Deputy Governor Dhammika Nanayakara, Superintendent of Public Debt Dr. M.Z.M Aazim and Director Economic Research Development Dr. C. Amarasekara of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka participated during the meetings.

The Sri Lanka delegation also met with Executive President of the Central Bank of the Sultanate of Oman Tahir Salim Al Amri, discussed on the further enhancement of cooperation between the Central Banks of both countries and agreed to sign a MoU between the two central banks in the near future.

The Sri Lanka delegation led by State Minister Cabraal also had fruitful discussion with Chief Executive Officer of Muscat Bank, Waleed K. Al Hashar and engaged with other prominent private banks in Oman namely Bank of Dhofar, National Bank of Oman and the Bank of Sohar.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka also organised a productive investment promotion meeting with Chief Executive Officer of Madayn and  Chairman of Shumookh Investment and Services of Oman Hilal Al-Hasani and his high level delegation with a view to attracting foreign direct investments to Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Ameer Ajwad hosted lunch in honour of the visiting Sri Lanka delegation led by the Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to the Sultanate of Oman at hotel Al Falaj in Muscat owned by Aitken Spence of Sri Lanka.

State Minister Cabraal presented ‘badges of logo’ issued by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Oman, to the dignitaries.

Other members of the Sri Lanka delegation included representatives of the State and private banks in Sri Lanka namely Senior Deputy General Manager of Bank of Ceylon Dhanapala Sumanasiri, Deputy General Manager of Bank of Ceylon Nadira Jeewantha, Chief Executive Officer of People’s Bank Ranjith Kodituwakku, Head of Treasury, Investment Banking and Financial Institutions of People’s Bank Clive Fonseka, Chief Financial Officer of Commercial Bank Nandika Buddhipala as well as Private Secretary to the State Minister Darshanie Amarasinghe and Media Secretary R. M. A.W. Rajapaksha.