Egypt, Sri Lanka FMs discuss economic cooperation

Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty discussed with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry boosting trade and investment relations between the two countries and recent developments in the Gaza war at a meeting on Saturday in Cairo.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, FM Abdelatty praised during the meeting the activation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms in the holding of the second round of political consultations at the level of Assistant Foreign Ministers in Colombo in July 2023.

He also welcomed Sri Lanka's relaunching of the Egyptian-Sri Lankan Parliamentary Friendship Association at the end of last year.

FM Abdelatty commended investments by major Sri Lankan companies in the ready-made garments sector in the country, inviting more Sri Lankan investors to take advantage of more promising investment opportunities in the manufacturing sector.

Minister Sabry emphasized his country's interest in strengthening cooperation with Egypt in economic, cultural, and, combatting terrorism areas, according to the statement.

On this note, Minister Abdelatty reaffirmed to his Sri Lankan counterpart Cairo's readiness to cooperate with Sri Lanka in combatting terrorism, citing the leading role of Al-Azhar in promoting tolerant thought as evidenced in its dispatching of imams to Sri Lankan schools and religious institutions.

Abdelatty also highlighted Cairo's keenness to increase tourism exchange between the two countries by activating the joint memorandum of understanding signed in 2008, according to the statement.

The two ministers discussed ways for Sri Lanka to benefit from Egypt's pioneering expertise in training cadres in the tourism and archaeological sectors.