S’pore looks forward to participate in Sri Lanka CHOGM

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said the Singaporean government was looking forward to participating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the Commonwealth Business Forum in Colombo in November.

Shanmugam said so during a meeting with External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris in Singapore on Friday.

Sri Lanka’s achievement of peace and stability has made it possible for a whole range of benefits not only for the people of the country but for the entire region. This is exemplified by the very significant contribution made by the Sri Lanka Navy to maintaining the safety of sea lanes in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal and thereby ensuring the integrity of transnational commerce, Professor Peiris said.

Minister Peiris was on a one day official visit to Singapore.

Minister Shanmugam said Singapore was delighted to see the impressive progress being made by Sri Lanka after the termination of the conflict, and that Singapore stood ready to be a partner with Sri Lanka in the fields of investment and trade.

Minister Peiris described to his counterpart the opportunities available for investment in Sri Lanka and the advantages accompanying investment.

Practical modalities for enhancing investment and trade formed the main content of the discussion.

Prof Peiris briefed Shanmugam about the arrangements being made by Sri Lanka to host CHOGM and the Commonwealth Business Forum in Colombo.

He also informed the Singaporean minister of the discussions which the Sri Lankan government held with Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, who visited Colombo last week, and the latter’s remark, in his departure statement that the arrangements are on track and impressive.

The ministers also discussed a range of issues about the Commonwealth and its priorities for the future.