A comprehensive agreement with regard to political consultations on a regular basis was signed at the Palace of Nations in Algiers by Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria. This agreement was signed on the sidelines of the recently held 17th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Algiers.
Algeria is Chair of the current Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, while Sri Lanka is Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth and Chair of the Group of 15, which will hold its Summit in Colombo in November this year.
The Foreign Ministers of Sri Lanka and Algeria, at their bilateral discussions, noted the very close cooperation between the two countries in international fora. Minister Peiris thanked Minister Lamamra warmly for Algeria’s understanding and support in respect of Sri Lanka’s issues at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He also expressed appreciation of Algeria’s vigorous co-operation regarding counter-terrorist activity. Prof. Peiris emphasized Sri Lanka’s eagerness to explore avenues of greater collaboration with Algeria in the field of oil and gas.