Pre Visit Press Release
At the invitation of Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, Prof. G.L. Peiris, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Dr. Zalmai Rassoul will undertake a visit to Sri Lanka from 18th to 21st December 2012. He will be accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.
The two Foreign Ministers will discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest. In strengthening bilateral relations, an Agreement in the fields of Economic, Educational, Scientific and Technical Cooperation will also be signed.
During the visit, the Afghan Foreign Minister will call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and also meet Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa and Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The visiting Minister will deliver a Public Lecture on “Afghanistan today and beyond 2014” on Wednesday 19th December 2012, at 1700hrs at the Main Conference Hall of the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan is also scheduled to visit the Southern Province of Sri Lanka prior to his departure.
This visit is expected to mark a new chapter in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka relations.
Ministry of External Affairs
17 December 2012
