PM full of praise for outgoing UK High Commissioner

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, on Monday (19) expressed his gratitude to the outgoing High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Sarah Hulton, for her unwavering dedication in strengthening the friendly relations between Sri Lanka and the UK. The Prime Minister conveyed his appreciation during a farewell meeting held at Temple Trees, when the High Commissioner paid a courtesy call.

Commending the tireless efforts of the High Commissioner in advancing the bilateral partnership between Sri Lanka and the UK, the Prime Minister emphasized the significant presence maintained by the UK in Sri Lanka across various domains during her tenure since 2019.

During the meeting, High Commissioner Sarah Hulton acknowledged the invaluable support extended by Mr. Gunawardena throughout his time as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Education, as well as during his current tenure as the Prime Minister. She highlighted that this support has greatly contributed to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Prime Minister warmly welcomed the UK’s decision to include Sri Lanka as a beneficiary country under the UK GSP Scheme, specifically the “Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).” Under this scheme, 92% of Sri Lankan exports will receive duty concessions, promoting trade between the two nations.

Expressing optimism for future prospects, Premier Gunawardena stated that Sri Lanka looks forward to new investment projects from the UK, particularly following the successful conclusion of the debt restructuring process and the unlocking of the IMF fund facility. He further encouraged UK investments in sectors such as education, banking and financial services, IT/BPM, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, and tourism.