Afghan jobs for Lankans
Vast number of opportunities for professionals in
many sectors:
JORDAN: A vast number of jobs will be open to Lankan
professionals in the reconstruction process of Afghanistan, Afghan
President Hamid Karzai has assured President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
President Karzai has made this pledge during bilateral talks with
President Rajapaksa on the sidelines of the G-11 Summit in Jordan,
President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga told the Daily News.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka will soon make arrangements to send
professionals including engineers, architects, quantity surveyors,
designers, IT personnel, accountants, auditors, doctors and other health
professionals for the massive reconstruction in Afghanistan, the newest
member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Weeratunga said this would be a golden opportunity for Lankans to
contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, emerging from years of
strife. Many reconstruction projects will be funded by the World Bank,
other donor agencies and countries.
Apart from the professionals who will be directly involved in
construction activity, there will be many more opportunities for Lankan
experts for conducting feasibility reports, Environmental Impact
Assessments and other consultancy processes, he added.
He said this would fuel growth in Sri Lanka in these sectors and
create a bigger demand for Lankan professionals around the world. It
will also help the country earn more foreign exchange.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Emir Al Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has pledged to
grant more funds from the Kuwaiti Fund for development projects in Sri
Lanka following extensive talks with President Rajapaksa.
The two leaders discussed the Kuwaiti Fund projects so far undertaken
in Sri Lanka and the possibility of further cooperation. The Emir
accepted the President’s invitation to visit Sri Lanka at the earliest
opportunity.
The President also invited Jordan’s King Abdullah Al Hussein to visit
Sri Lanka soon. The Lankan Foreign Ministry will make arrangements for
these State visits in consultation with the foreign ministries of the
two countries.Weeratunga said the President’s Middle East visit was a
great success.
The President developed close links with the G-11 leaders and Sri
Lanka’s presence at the World Economic Forum sent a strong signal to the
international investor and business community about Lanka’s commitment
to a investment-friendly climate, he added. |