COLOMBO: Sri Lanka and Afghanistan signed the MoU on Establishment of a Political Consultations Mechanism between Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan on Wednesday,April 7.
The MoU that provides for regular engagement and partnership between the two South Asian countries was signed by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and representing the Government of Afghanistan, by Afghan Ambassador in Colombo Ashraf Haidari.
Under the MoU, the two countries expressed confidence that Sri Lanka – Afghanistan bilateral partnership will grow further through active facilitation by both Foreign Ministries, thus enabling a yearly review of the whole gamut of bilateral relations.
This would cover areas such as political, economic, security, culture, health, social, people – to –people contacts and other areas of common interest including regional cooperation.
With this MoU, Sri Lanka completes the establishment of bilateral instruments of Political Consultations or Foreign Office Consultations with all countries in South Asia. The signed MoU remains an important bilateral instrument in the history of 63 years of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The two sides agreed to further enhance bilateral relations and to hold an inaugural session of the Political Consultations at a mutually convenient time in the near future. Close cooperation in economic and trade matters as well as connectivity with neighbours, and Members of the SAARC remains Sri Lanka’s foremost Economic Diplomacy goal.
Both sides underscored the high potential areas for bilateral trade, including tea, gem and jewellery, dry fruits, nuts and cereal and highlighted that direct air connectivity would provide both countries to have closer cooperation in tourism, cultural and social engagements.
In a brief speech, Ambassador Haidari said : “ Indeed, the strong friendship and partnership between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka rest on a solid foundation of mutual respect, understanding, and benefit. And this is underpinned by our cherished, shared heritage. The statues of Buddha in Afghanistan’s province of Bamiyan speak to the ancient civilizational bonds that tie the “Jewel of the Indian Ocean,” Sri Lanka, and the “Heart of Asia,” Afghanistan.”
With the signing of the MOU,the envoy further said : “ Both sides look forward to using the regular political consultations mechanism to discuss and facilitate—among other things—the signing of additional MOUs and Agreements in the pipeline. These are aimed at air connectivity, defense cooperation, trade promotion and protection, tourism facilitation, diplomatic visa waiver collaboration, as well as mutual legal assistance.”
The State Minister for Regional Cooperation, Tharaka Balasuriya, Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof Jayanath Colombage, and officials of the Afghan Embassy in Colombo and Foreign Ministry were associated with the event.
