Harin holds discussions with IOM Director General and ITU Secretary-General

Telecommunication, Digital Infrastructure and Foreign Employment Minister Harin Fernando (centre right) and the GoSL delegation meet with IOM Director General Ambassador William Lacy Swing (centre left) and senior IOM officials in Geneva

Telecommunication, Digital Infrastructure and Foreign Employment Minister Harin Fernando emphasised that the Government of Sri Lanka accorded priority to increasing foreign employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in semi-skilled and skilled categories, with a clear focus on diversification of labour markets. The Minister particularly highlighted the long-term productive contributions made by Sri Lankan labour migrants to the growth of Sri Lanka’s economy.

Minister Fernando made these remarks during a meeting with International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Director General Ambassador William Lacy Swing and senior officials IOM on 19 July in Geneva.  

Director General Swing thanked the Minister for the excellent bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and the IOM, and conveyed his appreciation for Sri Lanka’s leadership of Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) and its contribution and stewardship in the recent past of the Colombo Process (CP). Director General Swing stressed that these regional processes, as well as other initiatives such as migrant health, migration governance, once they were combined and harnessed into practical and cooperative programs, could help many countries to leverage migration for development gains.  He encouraged Sri Lanka to continue to be active in these areas.    Later in the day, Minister Fernando also met International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.  They discussed new avenues for enhanced cooperation between Sri Lanka and ITU in the development of telecommunication outreach and digitalisation, specially geared to empowering youth and rural communities in Sri Lanka, while making internet access less costly.

Matters relating to Sri Lanka’s participation and contribution in ITU forums, including the ITU Telecom World 2018 and the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, as well as improving connectivity and cooperation through regional mechanisms were also discussed. 

Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva Ambassador A. L. A. Azeez, Deputy Permanent Representative Samantha Jayasuriya, and Minister Counsellor Shashika Somaratne were associated with the Minister at these meetings.

From left: ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, Telecommunication, Digital Infrastructure and Foreign Employment Minister Harin Fernando, and ITU Radiocommunication Bureau Director François Rancy