Labour training:

Lanka, Oman to sign MoU

Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmood Al Said, Head of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, commented on the strength of the links between Sri Lanka and Oman and the values shared by the two countries in dealing with current challenges.

External Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris with Head of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmood Al Said

"The voyage of the ship, 'The Jewel of Muscat', from the Southern Oman Port of Salala to the Port of Galle in April last year vividly symbolizes this historical relationship and its importance in terms of people to people contact," he said. More than 20,000 Sri Lankans are productively contributing to the economy of Oman, he added.

He made these remarks while welcoming External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris, at the office of the Council of Ministers of Oman.

Minister Prof Peiris handed over to the Head of the Government of Oman a personal letter from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman.

Mahmood Al Said, who received a detailed briefing from Minister Peiris about the whole range of issues relating to the controversial Darusman report on Sri Lanka prepared by the Panel of Experts appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, emphasized the importance of local culture and tradition in developing approaches to the solution of issues confronting a country.

He told the visiting Sri Lankan Minister that the first Inspector General of Police of the Sultanate of Oman was a Sri Lankan, and that Oman has the greatest respect for the calibre of Sri Lanka's human resources.

During the bilateral meeting External Affairs Minister Peiris discussed co-operation with regard to vocational training and skills development. A Memorandum of Understanding in respect of manpower and the training of labour is being finalized between the two governments, and Oman's Labour Minister is expected to travel to Sri Lanka shortly for the signing of this agreement.

Matters relating to the expansion of the volumes of trade between the two countries received a special focus in the discussions, in the context of peace and stability established in Sri Lanka consequent on the eradication of terrorism. Among the other topics discussed were participation by Oman in the development of tourism infrastructure in Sri Lanka and increased air connectivity between Colombo and Muscat.

Minister Peiris also had discussion with Transport and Communiation Minister Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Fotasy, and General Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development in Oman Head Salim bin Nasser Al Ismaily.