Commonwealth leaders laud Lanka’s progress

Friday, 15 November 2013 01:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Heads of State participate in bilateral talks with Basil

A number of visiting Commonwealth leaders have welcomed the progress Sri Lanka has made in the areas of infrastructure development, tourism promotion and food security among others since the end of the war and expressed appreciation for the country’s economic development and the current political environment. Nigerian Vice President Mohomad Namadi Sambo, Zambian Vice President Dr. Guy Scott, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, Mozambique’s Mineral Resources Minister Laurinda Bias and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop who are in the island to participate in CHOGM 2013 expressed these views at a meeting with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday. At this meeting they agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations, mutual cooperation, exchange knowledge and expertise gained in their respective countries in matters of government policy, rural development and promote trade ties. Strengthening friendship with African countries Explaining the progress Sri Lanka has made under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s leadership, Minister Rajapaksa said that this country has decided to further strengthen friendship with African countries. He expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Sri Lankan people to the leaders of Zambia, Nigeria and Mozambique for supporting Sri Lanka in the international arena in recent years. Zambian Vice President Dr. Guy Scott noted the progress Sri Lanka has made in the garment industry, information technology sector, power generation and water resources development. He expressed confidence that in the coming years more wildlife-oriented tourists would visit Sri Lankan given its great natural scenic beauty Mozambique’s Mineral Resources Minister Laurinda Bias requested that Sri Lanka export tea, gems and jewellery to her country and invited Sri Lanka to send a team of investors to Mozambique early next year in order to provide the necessary facilities. She also requested that Sri Lankan gem and jewellery technicians be sent to Mozambique to train people there. She also appreciated the steps President Rajapaksa had taken to strengthen communal harmony and national unity here. Strengthening cooperation through bilateral agreements Nigerian Vice President Mohomad Namadi Sambo said his Government was looking forward to strengthen cooperation with Sri Lanka through bilateral agreements. Minister Rajapaksa explained to him the progress Sri Lanka has made through the Divi Neguma Program and said that all development work is centred on the individual and the family. He added that poverty has been reduced from 20% to 6% through such programs launched in 36,000 villages. New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said that his country has taken steps to provide Sri Lankan consumers with high quality powdered milk manufactured according to health standards. He added that New Zealand would revive the assistance program launched under the Colombo Plan in 1965 to expand milk production in Sri Lanka and encourage Sri Lankan dairy farmers. Among the others who met Minister Rajapaksa were Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, now in Sri Lanka to participate in CHOGM 2013. Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Deputy Minister Faiszer Mustapha and other high-level representatives were present at this meeting presided over by Minister Rajapaksa.