Sri Lankan Ambassador calls on Prime Minister of Bahrain

The newly appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka Dr. A. Saj U. Mendis, called on Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Gudaibiya Palace, after presenting the Credence to the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by his Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and Senior Advisers and other senior most officials of the palace of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister welcomed the new Envoy, Dr. Mendis and stated that the bilateral relations, in all spheres, have been progressing steadily, particularly with the active participation of a competent, disciplined and committed expatriate workforce from Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain is the longest serving Prime Minister in the world since he assumed office in 1970. The Prime Minister stated that the last occasion that he visited Sri Lanka was in July of 2009 and added that the visit was highly fruitful and constructive. The Ambassador further added that since the historic visit of the Prime Minister in 2009, the relations between the two countries got further widened, deepened, strengthened and elevated to an unprecedented scale. 

Ambassador Dr. Mendis conveyed the greetings and appreciation from the President and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Dr. Mendis further expressed sincere appreciation and gratitude, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, for the opportunities and facilities extended by the Government of Bahrain in securing a large number of employment opportunities to nationals of Sri Lanka, particularly, skilled, highly trained and professionals. He also accentuated that the Government of Bahrain extended a favourable environment and ambiance for Sri Lankan workers to live and work, contentedly, in Bahrain, thus mutually benefiting both the countries.

Dr. Mendis further highlighted the vitality of the migrant workers for Sri Lanka as they contribute nearly 9% of the GDP, which is higher than the combined total contribution of the garment sector, tourism and tea, thus enunciating the significance of migrant workers for Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister also stated that the expatriate Sri Lankan workers have contributed to the advancement and evolution of the Kingdom of Bahrain, during the past decades. The Prime Minister also underscored that Sri Lanka is on a rapid economic trajectory opposed to many other countries in the world. 

Dr. Mendis stated that Sri Lanka is focusing extensively on economic diplomacy and is seeking employment opportunities in highly skilled and skilled provinces such as financial services, ITES, trade, management, medical services and engineering, among others. He also took the opportunity to express gratitude, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, to the Kingdom of Bahrain for extending support, assistance and cooperation, particularly, at most testing times, at regional and at international forums and conferences including that of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

In this context, Dr. Mendis expounded the measures taken by the new Government in order to address National Reconciliation on a comprehensive, efficacious and holistic basis, thus encompassing all nationalities, ethnicities, religions, casts and creeds. The Prime Minister reiterated that both Sri Lanka and Kingdom of Bahrain are island nation states and Bahrain would be eager to boost and to bolster economic and commercial cooperation, thus leading to the expansion and diversification of the economic base.