Important milestone in Sri Lanka-Kuwait relations

Ruwini Jayawardana

External Affairs Deputy Minister Neomal Perera said the Golden Jubilee of Independence of Kuwait is an important milestone in the liberal relations between Sri Lanka and Kuwait especially because the event coincides with the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Sri Lanka.

Kuwait’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yaqoub Y A A Alateeqi with External Affairs Deputy Minister Neomal Perera. Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

The Deputy Minister was speaking at a ceremony held to inform the media about the celebrations.

He said: “The Kuwait citizens have sacrificed to preserve the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of their country while the relationship between Kuwait and Sri Lanka had always been on friendship and solidarity.”

He noted that the bridge built between the two countries have brought the nations and their people together and had even expanded to some liberal and international initiatives in which both countries have given joint leadership.

“Kuwait had always helped Sri Lanka at times of difficulty. We cannot forget the work done by them to help tsunami victims and those displaced by floods in the North and East,” Deputy Minister Perera said adding that he hopes the relationship would further expand into an enduring multifaceted cooperation. Kuwait will be celebrating four significant occasions this year. The Golden Jubilee of Independence will fall on June 19 while the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Sri Lanka is on February 19.

The State will also be celebrating 20 years since being liberated from Saddam Hussein’s invasion on February 26 and the fifth anniversary of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah’s accession as Amir on January 29.

Kuwait became a sovereign State in June 19, 1961. After discovering oil fields the country became one of the largest oil exporters in the world. The Kuwait Embassy in Sri Lanka was established in March 12, 1995 and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Kuwait in 2001 opened new doors to bilateral relations between the two countries.

A number of agreements too inked and delegations visited Sri Lanka to strengthen trade, investment and cultural relationships.

The trade value between the two nations was Rs two billion and the value of exports 20 million US Dollars.

The import value was 22 million US Dollars. Sri Lanka is also the main tea supplier to Kuwait as around 54 percent of Kuwaitis are tea drinkers.