Lankan embassy in Libya

Irangika Range

The Government is planing to open a Sri Lankan Embassy in Libya to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said President Mahinda Rajapaksa disclosed this during a meeting with Libyan delegation which met him at Temple Trees on Monday to further cement the friendly relations between the two countries.

The Minister said Libyan leader Col. Gaddafi visited Sri Lanka in 1976 and he was welcomed by the Government at that time.

But Sri Lanka and Libya did not have ties at Embassy level. The President instructed them to arrange with Libya to open a Sri Lankan Embassy shortly for the welfare of both countries.

With the liberalisation of the Libyan economy, the private sector will be leading towards growth and Sri Lanka can be an active partner in this process.

He said both Sri Lanka and Libya have realised the importance of high-level exchanges between the two countries to make effective use of possibilities in each country.