Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa has met with the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka, Khaled Nasser Sulaiman AlAmeri, at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Colombo.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates, with particular attention to expanding trade and investment cooperation and identifying new areas in which the two countries could work together.

Discussions also covered the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on oil supplies and energy prices, and the possible implications for Sri Lanka’s economy and consumers, the statement said. 

The safety and wellbeing of Sri Lankan nationals working in the UAE was also discussed, particularly in the context of the wider regional security situation. 

Sri Lanka and the UAE have longstanding economic and people-to-people ties, with a significant Sri Lankan community contributing to the UAE’s economy. 

The meeting further explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in emerging sectors and to strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries, building on existing cooperation in areas including trade, investment, tourism and development, it added. 

Recent UAE–Sri Lanka discussions have also highlighted opportunities for expanded economic and tourism cooperation. 

Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining close relations and exploring new avenues of collaboration that can create greater economic opportunities for Sri Lanka and the UAE.