With Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in her office at Parliament House
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake met Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on 26 March during a visit to Australia on the invitation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The two Ministers discussed bilateral issues ranging from the strong people to people links and growing economic relations, to cooperation in countering transnational crimes. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop conveyed Australia’s appreciation to Sri Lanka for its cooperation in combatting people smuggling. State Minister Senanayake thanked the Foreign Minister for Australia’s long-term development assistance to Sri Lanka and support to eradicate dengue, which was announced during Minister Bishop’s visit to Sri Lanka in July 2017. The two Ministers also discussed political and maritime issues of relevance in the region that are of mutual concern, and the keen interest shown by Australian companies to invest in Sri Lanka in mining and energy sectors. Given Australia’s interest in Sri Lanka’s reconciliation and reconstruction the State Minister briefed on recent developments and thanked Australia for the pragmatic approach taken on these issues.
