Sri Lanka, Seychelles sign three agreements

Tuesday, 2 July 2013 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka and Seychelles signed three agreements yesterday (30 June) following bilateral discussions between President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is currently on a two-day state visit to Seychelles and his counterpart James Alix Michel. The agreements signed were bilateral air-service agreement, MOU on vocational training and youth development and MOU on defense cooperation between the two countries. Bilateral discussions between the leaders of Sri Lanka and Seychelles were held at the State House in Seychelles. “May the cooperation between our two countries be an example to the world. Both our countries are island nations. Therefore we must make sure our voice is heard. We have already set an example in the area of climate change. We can be a role model to the world,” President of Seychelles James Alix Michel said during the discussion.

President Rajapaksa’s visit laid a solid foundation for bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Seychelles, President Michel said, adding that President Rajapaksa is an exemplary leader. While commending Sri Lanka for progressing on the path of reconciliation under the leadership of President Rajapaksa, the Seychelles President said there is an immense opportunity for economic and trade relations between the two countries at a time when Africa is opening up. The visit to Sri Lanka by President Michel was a landmark in bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Seychelles, President Rajapaksa said. It is a great honor to be the first Sri Lankan leader to visit Seychelles, he added. President Rajapaksa was of the view that visits of this nature will further enhance south-south cooperation. The President, while noting a positive growth in trade between the two countries, announced that a branch of Bank of Ceylon will be opened in Seychelles. Commencing direct flights between Sri Lanka and Seychelles is especially important because it paves the way to consolidate the friendship between peoples of two the countries. The discussion also focused on several other areas of mutual interest including fisheries, education, culture, tourism, health and renewable energy.