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Lanka-Bahrain Joint Commission to develop economic trade, social ties

From Chatura Vidyaratne in New York

Sri Lanka and Bahrain agreed on Monday to establish a Joint Commission to develop economic, trade and social relations between the two countries.

This followed bilateral discussions Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had in New York with Bahrain's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheik Mohamed bin Mubarak. The two delegations which attended the discussions also decided to sign several investment promotion and financial agreements between the two countries. A joint commission will be particularly helpful in resolving job problems encountered by Sri Lankan expatriate workers in Bahrain.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was accompanied by Economic Reforms, Science and Technology Minister Milinda Moragoda, Foreign Affairs Minister Tyronne Fernando and Sri Lanka's UN Representative Charlie Mahendran at the talks at the UN building's special meeting hall.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Government has decided to request a direct and more meaningful contribution from the European Union towards the success of Sri Lanka's peace process.

The European Union is expected to give a favourable response to this request in the context of the special economic and political support it renders towards other countries in the world, diplomatic circles in New York said. Sri Lanka's request will be formally put forward when Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and his delegation meets EU leaders like EU President and Italy's Foreign Minister Famini, EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, EU Foreign Policy High Representative Javier Solana and Ireland's Foreign Minister Brian Cowen during bilateral talks in New York on September 25.

Earlier too Sri Lanka requested EU support for the success of the peace effort and the EU promised to lend support through the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.

Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Brazil Romesh Jayasinghe said Prime Minister Wickremesinghe's meetings with EU leaders may bring vast economic benefits to the country including enhanced garment quotas as of the country's endeavour to resolve 20 years of conflict through peaceful negotiations.

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