Bahrain PM here today
A major boost to bilateral, economic ties:
On the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa Bahrain Prime
Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, will be on an official
visit to Sri Lanka from July 28-30. He will hold bilateral talks with
the President on a wide range of issues including expanding the economic
co-operation between the two countries.
This is the first high level visit to Sri Lanka from Bahrain after 33
years. The late Amir Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, visited Sri Lanka
for the Non Aligned Summit Conference in 1976.
Sri Lanka's main focus during the visit will be to attract
Bahrain-based companies to invest in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
There are a number of investment opportunities which have opened up in
Sri Lanka in recent times.
During the high level visit, bilateral agreements on tourism
co-operation, economic, trade and technical co-operation and expansion
of relations between the Trade Chambers of Sri Lanka and Bahrain will be
signed by the two Foreign Ministers.
The MOU on "Economic, Trade and Technical Co-operation" and the MOU
on "Tourism Co-operation" are aimed at enabling the two sides to explore
further opportunities in a range of fields beneficial to the people. Sri
Lanka is also expecting to sign Agreements on Investment Promotion and
Protection and on Double Taxation in the next phase of its bilateral
engagement with Bahrain.
Sri Lanka's labour relations with Bahrain remains significant.
Bahrain continues to provide a conductive environment for around 15,000
Sri Lankan workers to work peacefully in the Kingdom.
These Sri Lankan expatriates contribute to the economy of the Kingdom
and have built strong bridges between the two countries.
Sri Lanka is interested in sending qualified nurses as well as
skilled workers to the Kingdom in the future, especially in the
hospitality, finance and petroleum sectors under the new "Manpower and
Occupational Training Agreement" signed with Bahrain in January, 2008.
In manifestation of the friendly relations that exist between the two
countries, the Government of Bahrain voted in favour of Sri Lanka at the
11th Special Session of the United Nations' Human Rights Council on May
26, 2009.
The ceremony to sign MOUs will follow the Bilateral Talks at the
Presidential Secretariat.
The visiting Bahrain Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet with
the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister while the Commerce
and Industry Minister who accompanies the Prime Minister will meet with
the International Trade Minister and the Enterprise Development Minister
separately. |