RIYADH, 8 February — The Kingdom has decided to upgrade diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka to ambassadorial level, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar told a press conference at the Royal Palace here yesterday.
Kadirgamar met yesterday with Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and extended to him an invitation from President Chandrika Kumaratunga to visit Colombo. The crown prince accepted the invitation and said he would consider a visit at a suitable time.
Addressing a meeting at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kadirgamar invited Saudi businessmen to invest in his country. The meeting was attended by Sa’ad Al-Moajel, vice president of RCCI, and Hussein Al-Athel, secretary-general. At present, there are five Saudi investment projects in the island republic valued at around $5 million.
The foreign minister said he was happy with the announcement of his counterpart Prince Saud Al-Faisal who said the Saudi government had decided to upgrade the Kingdom’s diplomatic mission in Colombo to the ambassadorial level. It is now headed by Ali Al-Hamdan as charge d’affaires.
The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1974, and Sri Lanka opened its embassy in Jeddah in 1981. The Kingdom opened its mission in Colombo five years ago.
Kadirgamar said bilateral relations remained strong and vibrant, with Sri Lanka importing 25 percent of its oil needs from the Kingdom. The country supplies 60 percent of tea imported by the Kingdom.
These relations were set for a major boost as both countries were on the verge of signing an agreement expanding ties in trade, investment, tourism, culture and sports. “There are, broadly speaking, two types of agreements. One is focused essentially on trade and economic matters. The other is a broad framework which deals with a number of matters affecting the relations between the two countries. Both countries have opted for the second type.”
This agreement, which is expected to be completed today, would pave the way for setting up of a joint commission. He said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd had already agreed to formation of the joint panel in principle.
The commission “is a mechanism providing for periodic interaction between the two countries, either annually or every two years. The talks will be held alternately in Riyadh and Colombo.” He hoped that Prince Saud would visit Sri Lanka again, saying that such a visit would raise the profile of bilateral relations. Prince Saud last visited Sri Lanka in 1977.
