Prez discusses trade, tourism and education with foreign leaders

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had held several fruitful discussions with foreign leaders on promoting trade, tourism and education, the President’s Media Division said.

The President, who is in Glasgow to attend COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference, held these discussions on 02 November.

President Rajapaksa and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, held discussions on further strengthening the long standing friendship between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Both leaders discussed a wide range of fields, including the possibility of receiving employment opportunities for Sri Lankan professionals instead of domestics.

The President also met the Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba and discussed increasing the number of flights and promoting tourism and education between the two countries. SriLankan Airlines operates four flights a week between Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The meeting between Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took place at the Merchants House in Glasgow. Secretary-General Scotland informed the President that the Commonwealth helps member countries to expand market opportunities.

The President also met with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Director General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as well as Heads of State and Representatives of several Middle Eastern and Western countries and held discussions on enabling new opportunities in tourism, financial and several other sectors in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK Saroja Sirisena were also present.