Spanish Senate President commends Lanka’s development
President of the Senate of Spain, Pio Garcia Escudero commended the
rapid growth and development taking place across Sri Lanka and hailed
the cordial ties that exist between Spain and Sri Lanka, during his
meeting with Water Supply and Drainage Minister and Chief Government
Whip, Dinesh Gunawardena in Madrid, Spain.
Minister Gunawardena who is also the President of the Sri Lanka-Spain
Parliamentary Friendship Association noted Sri Lanka’s economic growth
rate as being one of the fastest in Asia and highlighted several areas
of cooperation that have hitherto remained untouched and could be
further strengthened given the potential of Spain, which is the second
largest country in Europe.
He identified the spheres of water supply, solar power, solid waste
management and desalinization as well as wind energy as some of the
sectors in which cooperation could be enhanced between the two
countries. Apprising the President of the Senate on the various
projects already implemented in Sri Lanka since the end of the
conflict, Minister Gunawardena praised the efforts undertaken by Spain
to assist Sri Lanka at varying times in the past, especially after the
tsunami.
Minister Gunawardena who is on a visit to Spain, was in Madrid on the
first part of his visit, for talks with key stakeholders in the Spanish
Senate and Congress. He also met with representatives of business
conglomerates that have entered Sri Lanka and those that have expressed
interest in investing in the country.
Minister Gunawardena was accompanied by Member of Parliament Vasantha
Senanayake, who is the Secretary of the Sri Lanka – Spain Parliamentary
Friendship Association, Yadamini Gunawardena and George I. H. Cooke,
First Secretary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France, which is
accredited to Spain.
Having received the Orden de Isabel la Católica in February 2013,
Minister Dinesh Gunawardena is the only Sri Lankan to have been so
honoured by Spain. |