UAE looks forward to signing eight agreements including the bilateral security cooperation agreement with Sri Lanka, UAE Minister of State Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh told a Sri Lankan delegation led by Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Rtd) Dr Sarath Weerasekera.
Minister Weerasekara called on the UAE Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Abu Dhabi on Dec 18.
Minister Ahmed said the economy of Sri Lanka will grow with the government having mitigated the pandemic risk and secured Sri Lanka from security threats. In response to Minister Weerasekera’s request for investments in Sri Lanka, Minister Ahmed said a UAE trade delegation will visit Sri Lanka shortly.
The Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister Weerasekera discussed security cooperation with the Interior Ministry and Dubai Police. The delegations discussed the threats to the region after the return of the Taliban to Afghanistan. They discussed how to counter cascading extremist ideologies and disrupt the flow of narcotics.
“Sri Lanka has paid primary focus on tourism, trade and investment after having vaccinated 80% of its citizens and secured the country from threats,” stated Minister Weerasekera adding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s untiring efforts and commitment has created the environment for Sri Lanka to move from stability to prosperity.
The Sri Lanka delegation consisted of Minister’s Senior Advisor Narada Samarasinghe, Minister’s Private Secretary Maduranga Perera, and Minister’s Coordinating Secretary on Middle Eastern Affairs Seyed Ansar Maulana. Prof Rohan Gunaratna, Director General of the Institute of National Security Studies, State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management joined the Public SecurityMinistry delegation. The UAE delegation included Minister Ahmed’s chief of staff Sultan al Mansoori and West Asia Affairs Director Khaled Nasser Al Ameri.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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