Qatar, Lanka ties strengthened

Qatar and Sri Lanka have agreed to engage in a sustained dialogue to promote greater cooperation in a number of areas for the mutual benefit of both countries.

This emerged following bilateral talks hosted by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama with the visiting Minister of State for International Cooperation of Qatar, Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah and his accompanying delegation at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

Dr. Attiyah and his high powered delegation comprising senior government officials, top executives of the Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar Petroleum and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry arrived in Sri Lanka on Thursday on a three-day official visit.

Earlier in the day, the visiting Qatari dignitary paid a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at “Temple Trees” and also visited the Colombo Stock Exchange, where he evinced keen interest in its operations.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama in his opening remarks at the bilateral discussions, while welcoming his Qatari guest and delegation, underscored the great importance that Sri Lanka attached to its relations with the State of Qatar and said that he looked forward to a very fruitful dialogue.

Dr. Attiyah, echoing the Foreign Minister’s sentiments, proposed the setting up of a Joint Committee between the two countries to take forward the dialogue that has been initiated.

Enterprise, Development and Investment Promotion and Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Construction and Engineering Services Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Investment Promotion Minister Naveen Dissanayake and line Ministry Secretaries, the Governor of the Central Bank and several senior government officials were on the Sri Lankan delegation.

During the official talks, the Qatari delegation expressed interest in establishing a Qatar bank in Sri Lanka, which could serve as a conduit to channel investment flows from Qatar to the island.

Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, while welcoming this proposal invited Qatar to consider investing in Treasury Bonds, carrying attractive rates of return on investment, which have been opened to foreign markets.

Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Chairman and Director General Dhammika Perera and his official made a presentation to the Qatari delegation on the vast and lucrative opportunities available for foreign investors in Sri Lanka.

In particular, the many incentives provided by the Government for potential investors to develop the damaged infrastructure, as well as establish agricultural and industrial projects in the Eastern Province, were highlighted.

Both sides agreed that the proposed Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between the two countries should be finalized soon to be ready for signing during the forthcoming visit of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar to Sri Lanka.

Minister Bogollagama, referring to the direct air connectivity between Colombo and Doha, which has enabled the national carriers of the two countries to operate several flights, welcomed Qatari tourists to visit Sri Lanka and enjoy the scenic beauty of the country and the traditional hospitality of the Sri Lankan people.

It was pointed out that a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries has been proposed in the tourism sector. Minister Bogollagama said he was glad to learn of the significant contribution that the Sri Lankan expatriate community, numbering over 140,000 was making to the Qatari economy.

He sought the assistance of the Qatari authorities to allocate a suitable facility to accommodate the Sri Lankan School in Doha, which is currently unable to cope with the enhanced demand for new admissions.

He also informed the visiting Minister of State for International Cooperation of Qatar that Sri Lanka is also keen to have its own premises to house the Sri Lanka Embassy in Doha.

The Qatari Minister and his delegation will leave Sri Lanka at the conclusion of their visit tomorrow.