10 January 2021 07:01 pm
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has assured the early resumption of medical tourism for the Seychellois people, the Foreign Ministry said.
He has given this assurance when the outgoing High Commissioner of Seychelles in Colombo Conrad Vincent Mederic called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Foreign Ministry.
The High Commissioner has also commended the state of the art service rendered by hospitality and health industries of Sri Lanka by which several people of Seychelles benefit annually.
The Foreign Minister and the High Commissioner also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest including Covid-19 pandemic, maritime security, human trafficking, drug smuggling and transnational crimes.
Minister Gunawardena complemented the High Commissioner Mederic for his outstanding and significant contributions towards enhancing Sri Lanka - Seychelles relations during his tenure including the Presidential visits in 2017 and 2018 as the first High Commissioner of Seychelles to Sri Lanka.
While acknowledging the staunch support extended by Seychelles to Sri Lanka in the realm of multilateral and international fora, Foreign Minister Gunawardena reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to enhance close collaboration in areas of trade, agriculture medical tourism, blue economy, hospitality, financial sector and information technology.
Despite the closure of the High Commission of Seychelles in Colombo due to economic constraints posed by the Covid crisis, the High Commissioner handed over a letter to the Foreign Minister seeking permission to appoint a Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka.
As Indian Ocean nations, both parties agreed to consolidate the existing relations embracing new areas of cooperation in the years ahead.