Saudi Arabia - Sri Lanka poised to expand trade ties - Saudi envoy

• Measures underway to increase the number of workers from Sri Lanka  
• Many agreements in progress to be finalized  

Saudi Ambassador Khalid Hamoudh Al-Qahtani, in an interview with Daily Mirror on selected topics, details the current status of bilateral relations and the way forward.   

Q What is the current status of Saudi Arabia - Sri Lanka diplomatic relations, including details about recent high-level visits and any agreements that have been reached between the two nations in recent times?

The diplomatic relationship between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka is founded on the principles of mutual respect and collaboration across various domains. Recognizing their shared interests, Sri Lanka established an Embassy in the Kingdom in 1984, along with a Consulate General in Jeddah in 1997. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia initiated diplomatic representation in Sri Lanka by establishing an Embassy in 1995. Since then, diplomatic ties have experienced substantial growth and development.  

Official visits between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka have played a significant role in enhancing their bilateral relations, the most important of which was the visit of Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia on March 14, 2022. During this visit, he engaged in meetings with the President, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, underscoring its significance. From the Sri Lankan side, there have been notable visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These include the visit of Minister of State for Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya on March 19, 2022, Minister of Environment Naseer Ahamed on August 28, 2022, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara from 8th to 12th November 2022, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry from 22nd to 27th January 2023. The foreign minister held discussions with several senior officials in Saudi Arabia, including his Saudi counterpart. Additionally, there was a visit by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, who led a delegation to participate in the Joint Committee meeting in Riyadh from 21st to 22nd May 2023. Furthermore, the establishment of the Parliamentary Friendship Committee between the two countries marked another significant development. Regarding the recent agreements between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka, several important agreements have been reached. Notably, during the visit of the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, a double taxation exemption agreement was signed. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations between the two nations was signed during the recent visit of the State Minister of Foreign Affairs to Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a significant agreement was signed between the Saudi Takamul Company, which operates under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia, and the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka. This particular agreement is designed to enhance the professional capabilities of workers in the Saudi labour market and simplify the process of recruiting skilled personnel from Sri Lanka. It is worth noting that there are still several agreements in progress, awaiting finalization.  

Geographically, Sri Lanka is the link between the East and the West, with the so-called Silk Road. Sri Lanka is characterized by many tourist attractions, the most important of which are its extended beaches and places dedicated to various sports, adventures, festivals and wildlife practice

Q What are the results and impacts stemming from the first meeting of the Saudi - Sri Lanka Joint Committee? How have these outcomes played a role in strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries?

The first session of the Sri Lanka - Saudi Joint Committee emanating from the cooperation agreement between the two countries, was held during the period from May 21 to 22, 2023 in Riyadh. The Saudi delegation was headed by Dr. Abdullah Nasser Abu Thnain, Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Sri Lankan side was headed by the State Minister of Foreign Affairs. At this meeting, both parties reached an agreement to collaborate in numerous sectors, encompassing the fields of economics, trade, investment, labour, environmental conservation, education, cultural exchange, sports, agriculture, and humanitarian endeavours between the two nations. Parallel to the activities of the Joint Committee, a meeting was held between business representatives from Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia to explore prospects for private sector collaboration between the two countries. The Embassy is proactively liaising with the relevant Sri Lankan authorities to address and conclude the issues raised during this committee session.  

 The Saudi government has generously supported Sri Lanka with extensive assistance for both developmental projects and humanitarian relief. The total assistance amounts to around USD 455 million, funding 46 projects, including the King Abdullah Model City housing project to build 500 housing units in the “Norachcholai” area for those affected by the tsunami disaster. In addition to that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre implemented 13 projects, such as providing shelter, food and non-food materials, support and coordination of humanitarian operations and charitable works, and implementation of voluntary medical campaigns to combat blindness, at a cost of more than US $ 14 million.

Recognizing their shared interests, Sri Lanka established an Embassy in the Kingdom in 1984, along with a Consulate General in Jeddah in 1997. On the other hand,Saudi Arabia initiated diplomatic representation in Sri Lanka by establishing an Embassy in 1995. Since then, diplomatic ties have experienced substantial growth and development

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre implemented 13 projects, such as providing shelter, food and non-food materials, support and coordination of humanitarian operations and charitable works, and implementation of voluntary medical campaigns to combat blindness, at a cost of more than US $ 14 million

The Kingdom has also recently been distinguished by beach and recreational tourism, festivals and exhibitions tourism, archaeological tourism, shopping and museums, as Saudi Arabia has become a future tourist destination for international travellers

• Engaged in several meetings with Sri Lankan Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment to discuss issues related to the labour sector, including the possibility of reducing higher labour recruitment fees and increasing the number of training centres.
• Increasing the number of recruitment offices throughout Sri Lanka and accrediting them by the Embassy.  
• Taking measures to increase the number of medical centres throughout Sri Lanka.  
• Signing of a skills verification programme agreement between Saudi Takamul Company, under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development of the Kingdom, and the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka. This initiative aims to enhance the professional capabilities of workers in the Saudi labour market and streamline the recruitment of skilled labour from Sri Lanka.  

The Saudi government has generously supported Sri Lanka with extensive assistance for both developmental projects and humanitarian relief. The total assistance amounts to around USD 455 million

The Kingdom has also recently been distinguished by beach and recreational tourism, festivals and exhibitions tourism, archaeological tourism, shopping and museums, as Saudi Arabia has become a future tourist destination for international travellers. Sri Lankan tourists can obtain visas through the Kingdom’s mission in Colombo by accessing the link https://visa.mofa.gov.sa, also, those Sri Lankans who are holding visit visas of the United Kingdom, United States, or the Schengen countries, can obtain electronic visas. The average number of visas granted by the Embassy in Colombo to Sri Lankan citizens during the past years for various visas reached more than 60,000 annually.