Premadasa and Peters pledge deeper Sri Lanka-New Zealand ties

Thursday, 29 May 2025 05:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday hosted the visiting New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters in Colombo for a productive and wide-ranging discussion during his official visit to Sri Lanka.

The meeting centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including trade, investment, vocational training, tertiary education, renewable energy, and engagement under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Premadasa formally requested the Government of New Zealand to consider expanding the Dairy Cooperation Agreement (DCA), originally signed in 2013, to help transform Sri Lanka into a self-sufficient dairy-producing nation.

He emphasised that strengthening the DCA through modern technology, farmer training, and sustainable farming practices could eliminate the country’s dependency on dairy imports over time. “We value New Zealand’s partnership in our vision for a sustainable and skilled Sri Lanka,” said Premadasa.

Additionally, Premadasa proposed the formation of a Sri Lanka-New Zealand Higher Education and Skills Partnership Taskforce, aimed at institutionalising long-term collaboration in vocational, technical, and tertiary education. The proposal includes partnerships with New Zealand’s leading polytechnic and skills institutes to jointly deliver certification programmes in: Dairy and livestock management; Precision agriculture and irrigation; Food safety and post-harvest technologies and Renewable energy systems and climate-smart farming.

As a symbolic gesture of goodwill and shared values, Premadasa presented a life-size image of a Sri Lankan elephant calf to Deputy Prime Minister Peters. The image, depicting a calf born free in a national sanctuary, represents Sri Lanka’s deep commitment to conservation and the enduring friendship between the two island nations.

The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament Dr. Harsha De Silva, Harshana Rajakaruna, Kavinda Jayewardane, and Hector Appuhamy, along with a group of professionals and policy advisors engaged in international cooperation, education, and sustainable development.

Both parties expressed optimism about converting the meaningful dialogue into tangible outcomes, reinforcing people-to-people ties and advancing shared priorities in sustainability, skills, and regional partnership.

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