Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath met Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting in Manila, the Philippines.

Sharing a post on X (formally Twitter), Minister Jaishankar said he was pleased to meet his Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi counterparts during the regional gathering.

The ARF meeting brings together foreign ministers and representatives from Asia-Pacific countries to discuss regional security, cooperation and key international issues.

Minister Vijitha Herath is scheduled to participate in the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Manila, Philippines, from July 23 to 24.

Minister Herath is scheduled to address both meetings during the official visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The Minister is also expected to engage in bilateral discussions with foreign ministers of participating countries, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, and senior officials of the European Union and the Asian Development Bank on the sidelines of the meetings.

Among the scheduled bilateral engagements is a meeting with Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro.

During his visit, Minister Herath is also expected to officially inaugurate the Office of the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Mindanao, the Foreign Ministry added further.