MFA Press Statement: Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 23 To 24 February 2015

                   Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam visited Colombo from 23 to 24 February 2015. 

                   Minister Shanmugam called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister (PM) Wickremesinghe, and also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera and Governor of the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran.  They reaffirmed the longstanding and strong relations between Singapore and Sri Lanka.

                   President Sirisena noted the close friendship between the two countries, and expressed support for deeper cooperation between Singapore and Sri Lanka.  PM Wickremesinghe, who hosted breakfast for Minister Shanmugam, gave an update on his development plans, including reviving the Western Region Megapolis master plan that was created with Singapore's help in 2004.  Minister Samaraweera hosted a dinner for Minister Shanmugam, and they discussed ways to expand bilateral links between the two countries.  Governor Mahendran and Minister Shanmugam exchanged views on how to deepen economic cooperation. 

                  Minister Shanmugam invited the Sri Lankan government to send its officials to Singapore to participate in customised capacity-building programmes in various areas, including water management, urban planning, judicial governance and financial management.  Minister Shanmugam also invited the various leaders to make official visits to Singapore at an appropriate time.

                   Colombo was the first leg of Minister Shanmugam’s ongoing visit to Sri Lanka and India from 23 to 26 February 2015.  He will be in Jaipur on 25 February 2015 and Hyderabad on 26 February 2015.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

24 FEBRUARY 2015