Wednesday Mar 25, 2026
Wednesday Mar 25, 2026
Tuesday, 24 March 2026 03:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
A meeting between Presidential Chief of Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi and Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth was held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat, with talks centred on strengthening longstanding bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in key sectors.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Media Division (PMD), discussions focused in particular on education and employment pathways for Sri Lankans in Australia, reflecting the depth of people-to-people links between the two countries.
The High Commissioner noted the close engagement in higher education as well as in cricket, a shared cultural touchstone that continues to underpin relations.
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to tackling human smuggling and drug trafficking across the Indian Ocean region, issues that have figured prominently in bilateral security cooperation in recent years.
The High Commissioner said Australia stands ready to extend further support to Sri Lanka in areas including education, agriculture, and sustainable development.
He also observed that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has had economic repercussions for Australia, underscoring the wider global impact of geopolitical instability.
Australian Deputy High Commissioner Ruth Baird and Second Secretary Matthew Lord were also present at the meeting.
