Sri Lanka is the shining light of the Asian region: New Zealand PM

Says enormous opportunities for cooperation with Sri Lanka

Prime Minister of New Zealand John Phillip Key described Sri Lanka as the ‘shining light of the Asian region’ yesterday, adding that there were enormous opportunities available in Sri Lanka for New Zealand entrepreneurs and investors.

Delivering a media statement after the conclusion of bilateral discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, he said that he first visited Sri Lanka in 2013 for the Commonwealth Summit and in the current visit he personally noticed the vast transformations that have taken place in the country. 

He commended President Sirisena for the progress made during the short period and wished Sri Lanka well for the challenges the country has to face and expressed confidence that Sri Lankan leadership is capable of facing those challenges. He made a special reference to strengthening of democracy and the Government’s attempts to eliminate corruption.

Prime Minister Key said as agricultural nations New Zealand and Sri Lanka could enhance cooperation in that field. He added that his Government would assist the dairy sector in Sri Lanka and said a Dairy Production Institution would be set up in Sri Lanka which would help transfer of technology, ideas and knowhow to Sri Lankan farmers. “We want to help your farmers to be wealthier and we have no plans to take over their work,” he said.

Prime Minister Key thanked President Sirisena for the gift of a second baby elephant to New Zealand and said the first baby elephant gifted by Sri Lanka was now a 700 kilogram heavy strong elephant and it was a major attraction for children visiting the zoological park.

The delegation of Prime Minister Key included several important ministers and key officials and a trade and business delegation.