by:Chaminda Rodrigo

Art Tv – Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is inviting foreign investors to put their money into the countries highly lucrative fishing sector which is still an under explored gold mine. Famously known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is surrounded by a highly resourceful sea which runs up to 200 Nautical miles.

Lord Mark Malloch Brown, Minister of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs of the UK, who is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka has commended President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his courageous move to restore democracy to the Eastern Province. This observation was made by Lord Brown, when he called on Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday (15/07/08) in Colombo at his official residence. Minister Bogollagama, while appreciating the importance of Lord Brown’s scheduled visit to Trincomalee, explained that it would be an opportunity for him to observe post-conflict development and experience the engagement of former members of a terrorist group in democratic governance and institutions. The British Minister pledged the UK’s support for development work in the Eastern Province.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a set of guidelines to be followed for visa requests by UN and other International Organizations which have Status Agreements with the Government of Sri Lanka. The guidelines were circulated among all Heads of Organizations at a meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, which was held on Monday, 14 July 2008 at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the European Union Ravinatha Aryasinha has welcomed the decision by the European Parliamentary delegation visiting Sri Lanka from 20-26 July to undertake a visit to the Eastern Province to witness the political transformation taking place and to meet with the new Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan.