Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to the Philippines Shobini Gunasekera, paid a courtesy call on Assistant Secretary of the Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Republic of the Philippines Meynardo L.B. Montealegre on 03 October 2019.
The Assistant Secretary, while welcoming the Ambassador-designate, recalled the successful State Visit to Philippines by President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena and stated that the implementation of the MoUs on defence, agriculture, higher education and tourism, signed during the said visit would pave the way for further consolidation of relations between the two countries.
Ambassador-designate referred to the long-standing cordial relations that exist between the two countries and reiterated the need to seek new opportunities in the SME sector based on the synergies available. She also elaborated on the areas highlighted in the National Export Strategy (NES) of Sri Lanka launched recently as having good prospects for cooperation.
The Ambassador-designate pointed out that both Philippines and Sri Lanka worked closely in the finalization of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM) and in this respect also requested assistance from the Philippines on training needs for skilled labour.
The opening of the Philippine Mission in Colombo was also discussed during the meeting.
The other participants associated with the discussion were Minister of the Mission Thanuja Dissanayake, Director of ASPAC Rona Beth Goce and Principal Assistant of ASPAC Jeorge Philippe Arjona.
