Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 9th Asia Co-operation Dialogue in Tehran, with H.E. Dr. Mohammad Sabah Alsalem Alsabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. 

The Ministers noted that 2011 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Kuwait, and discussed modalities for deepening bilateral relations, with the advent of durable peace in Sri Lanka.

The Ministers reviewed the implementation of projects, in the fields of irrigation and education, supported out of the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development, and explored avenues for further investment by Kuwait in Sri Lanka.  

Prof. Peiris expressed Sri Lanka’s wish to have more opportunities for employment in Kuwait, especially in a health sector, where Sri Lanka’s expertise would be useful to Kuwait at this time. The Foreign Minister of Kuwait said that his government would be interested in pursuing this proposal.

The Ministers discussed implementation and strengthening of the Economic Co-operation Agreement between the two countries, signed in 2009. 

Minister Peiris informed his Kuwaiti counterpart that 2011 had been designated the Year of Tourism by Sri Lanka. The Ministers discussed practical modalities for the expansion of tourism, and investment by Kuwait in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, with particular emphasis on health tourism and eco-tourism. 

10th November 2010