Sri Lanka and Jordan agree to expand bilateral cooperation

(May 18, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Foreign Minister Bogollagama met with his Jordanian counterpart Naseer Judeh on the sidelines of the G-11 Summit and World Economic Forum at the Dead Sea in Jordan last Saturday (16 May 2009) and agreed to take measures to expand ongoing bilateral cooperation into a multi-sectoral engagement, covering trade, investment and tourism sectors. He said that trade in goods and commodities, light engineering and tea needed to be included in such an expanded cooperation.

Both Ministers recalled the excellent bilateral relations that exist between the two countries, characterized by mutual warmth and understanding. Minister Bogollagama thanked the Jordanian Government for hosting more than 50,000 Sri Lankan workers and for taking action to facilitate the resolution of their work-related problems and challenges. He emphasized that arrangements for concluding an Agreement on the Transfer of Prisoners between the two countries were in progress and that the formalities for signing an Agreement on Investment Protection and Promotion were being finalized. He also called for the signing of a bilateral Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation in the near future.

Expressing his appreciation for the invitation extended to him by Foreign Minister Bogallagama, Minister Judeh said that he looked forward to visiting Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient date. He also conveyed the willingness of the Jordanian Government to work with Sri Lanka on concluding a bilateral Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation, in a further manifestation of mutual goodwill and understanding.

The Foreign Minister briefed his Jordanian counterpart on the latest developments in the North adding that the Sri Lankan security forces have secured even the last stretch of land where civilians were entrapped by LTTE terrorists. He also stressed that the Government of Sri Lanka considered it an important task to advance the political process aimed at resolving the conflict.

-Sri Lanka Guardian