Colombo, Sri Lanka—President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone engaged in discussions with Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, as he traveled to Samoa for the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Minister Herath welcomed President Bio on behalf of Sri Lanka and highlighted the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries. He expressed interest in expanding collaboration in agriculture, education, and tourism. Herath also discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka and assured President Bio that post-election plans include enhancing development efforts in Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone. He acknowledged President Bio's support for private sector initiatives, including those involving Sri Lankan businesses.
Herath praised President Bio for his leadership at the United Nations Security Council and his commitment to women's empowerment and governance involvement. He emphasized a desire to strengthen South-South cooperation with Sierra Leone.
President Bio thanked the Sri Lankan government for its hospitality and reiterated the strong ties between their nations. He mentioned the positive trade relationship with Sunbird, a Sri Lankan company operating in Sierra Leone, and expressed eagerness for more investment from Sri Lanka in agriculture. A state-level meeting is planned to discuss further cooperation.
Bio requested technical assistance from Sri Lanka for Sierra Leone's agricultural sector, acknowledging their expertise could address challenges faced by his country. He emphasized opportunities for mutual exchange of experiences across various sectors and highlighted the importance of South-South relationships as a valuable resource.
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