Sri Lanka has increased potential to trade with the world and work for economic development, says President Maithripala Sirisena.

He said this during bilateral talks with the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, who is on a state visit to Sri Lanka, the President’s Media Division said. 

President Maithripala Sirisena received his Tajikistani counterpart, Emomali Rahmon at the Presidential Secretariat, where a guard of honour was followed by bilateral discussions.

President Sirisena welcomed the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon and the official delegation and emphasised the need to increased corporation in trade, regional security and fighting drug trafficking. 

President Sirisena pointed out that although both Sri Lanka and Tajikistan have shared interests and many commonalities, trade between the two countries has not grown satisfactorily. 

As such, he invited Tajikistani entrepreneurs and public sector to explore the potential to investment in Sri Lanka. President welcomed the signing of four bilateral agreements and said he looks forward to more cooperation between the two countries, especially in national security, drugs control, tourism, hydro power and trade.

President Emomali Rahmon highlighted the need to explore more possibilities in technology exchange in youth development, tourism, gem industry, and apparel industry. Tajikistan is keen to learn from Sri Lanka in those areas, he mentioned. 

President Emomali Rahmon reciprocated and invited President Maithripala Sirisena to a state visit of Tajikistan in the future.

Prime Minister RanilWicremesinghe elaborated that cultural and youth exchange programmes can be arranged, while exchange of technology and know-how in many areas are possible, as Sri Lanka works towards becoming an economic hub in the Indian Ocean.

After the bilateral talks, four bilateral agreements were entered into in the presence of the two Presidents:

1. Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan – signed by Harsha de Silva, acting Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and Aslov Sirodjin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.

2. Agreement between government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Tajikistan on Corporation in the field of Tourism. – signed by John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs of Sri Lanka and

3. Hon. Abdullozoda Ahtam, Chairman of the Committee for Youth, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Tajikistan.

4. Agreement between government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Tajikistan on Corporation in the field of Physical training and Sports – signed by Dayasiri Jayasekera, Minister of Sports and Hon. Abdullozoda Ahtam, Chairman of the Committee for Youth, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Tajikistan.

5. Aide Mémoire on the draft Agreement between the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Tajikistan on Mutual Corporation – signed by Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade of Sri Lanka and Hikmatullozoda Nematullo, Minister of Economic Affairs of Tajikistan