Events

“The Belarusian side noted the need to enhance the coordination in international parliamentary organizations. The main topic of the meeting was the development of the Belarusian-Lankan inter-parliamentary dialogue. Vladimir Andreichenko said that the lawmakers need to work to ensure that the parliamentary dimension of bilateral relations should meet the pace set out by the leaders of Belarus and Sri Lanka,” the press service noted. The parties agreed to develop further the dialogue between the parliamentary friendship groups, including through the joint search for initiatives that could enrich the Belarusian-Lankan national dialogue. With this in mind, the parties discussed the ways of stepping up trade and economic cooperation between the states, promising areas of cooperation in science and technology, education, culture and sports.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives suggested regular meetings between the friendship groups and exchange of visits. The Belarusian side has invited Chamal Rajapaksa to visit Belarus on a return visit.

Chamal Rajapaksa also attended the meeting between Vladimir Andreichenko and the friendship group with the National Assembly of Belarus at the Sri Lankan Parliament headed by its head - Vice Speaker of Parliament Chandima Weerakkody. Vladimir Andreichenko said that the friendship groups are a powerful tool for the development of dialogue between the legislative bodies, the potential of which should be fully utilized. The Chairman of the House of Representatives spoke about the Belarusian vision of certain areas of interaction

On 20 November Vladimir Andreichenko and representatives of the Belarusian business community, who are accompanying the Belarusian delegation in Sri Lanka, took part in the Belarusian-Sri Lankan Business Forum organized at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

At the forum Vladimir Andreichenko noted that the intensive exchange of contacts taking place recently between Belarus and Sri Lanka demonstrates the willingness of the two sides to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, to establish partnerships between business circles of the two countries. As Belarus and Sri Lanka's economies are complementary in many parameters, the Belarusian Speaker highlighted the promising areas of cooperation such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, engineering, education, science, and information technology. Belarus stands ready to assist Sri Lanka in industrialization, modernization of the agricultural sector.

At the conclusion of the forum, Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mikhail Myatlikov and his Sri Lankan counterpart signed a memorandum between the BCCI and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Among other things, the document provides for the organization of a big Belarus-Sri Lanka business forum with a business matchmaking event.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives took part in the signing ceremony of the memorandum on setting up the assembly facility of Belarusian tractors in Sri Lanka, and the schedule of its construction. Vladimir Andreichenko stated that this event is very important as this company may be the first concrete project of the Belarusian-Lankan industrial cooperation. "Tractor Belarus is not just a trademark. It is a universally recognizable brand of our country," he said.

On part of Sri Lanka the forum was attended by 40 business entities interested in establishing cooperation with Belarus.