The President of the Senate of Spain, Pio Garcia Escudero commended the rapid growth and development taking place across Sri Lanka and hailed the cordial ties that exist between Spain and Sri Lanka, during his meeting with the Minister of Water Supply and Drainage and Chief Government Whip, Dinesh Gunawardena in Madrid, Spain.
Minister Gunawardena who is also the President of the Sri Lanka-Spain Parliamentary Friendship Association noted Sri Lanka’s economic growth rate as being one of the fastest in Asia, and highlighted several areas of cooperation that have hitherto remained untouched and could be further strengthened given the potential of Spain, which is the second largest country in Europe.
He identified the spheres of water supply, solar power, solid waste management and desalinization as well as wind energy as some of the sectors in which cooperation could be enhanced between the two countries. Apprising the President of the Senate on the various projects already implemented in Sri Lanka since the end of the conflict, Minister Gunawardena praised the efforts undertaken by Spain to assist Sri Lanka at varying times in the past, especially after the tsunami.
Minister Gunawardena who is on a visit to Spain, was in Madrid on the first part of his visit, for talks with key stakeholders in the Spanish Senate and Congress. He also met with representatives of business conglomerates that have entered Sri Lanka and those that have expressed interest in investing in the country.
The Minister of Water Supply and Drainage was accompanied by Member of Parliament Vasantha Senanayake, who is the Secretary of the Sri Lanka – Spain Parliamentary Friendship Association, Mr Yadamini Gunawardena and Mr George I. H. Cooke, First Secretary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France, which is accredited to Spain.
Having received the Orden de Isabel la Católica in February 2013, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena is the only Sri Lankan to have been so honoured by Spain.
