The United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday announced its commitment to prioritizing the promotion of the energy, tourism, foreign investment, and foreign employment sectors while further strengthening its longstanding ties with Sri Lanka.
This announcement followed an official meeting between UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (22).
Sheikh Abdullah, currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka accompanied by a high-level UAE delegation, reaffirmed his country’s intention to expand and deepen the strong bilateral relations between the two nations. The visit, he noted, aims to enhance mutual economic cooperation for the benefit of both countries.
Extending best wishes on behalf of the UAE government and its people to Sri Lanka’s new administration, the Deputy Prime Minister pledged the UAE’s full support for the new government’s development agenda. He also commended President Dissanayake’s leadership, dedication, and proactive approach to rebuilding Sri Lanka and fostering positive relations with the UAE.
In response, President Dissanayake highlighted that Sri Lanka has now established a stable and investment-friendly environment, ensuring that the country would not revert to the unstable conditions of the past that discouraged investors. He emphasized the implementation of robust legal frameworks to safeguard investments.
The President also briefed the delegation on the government’s ongoing debt restructuring initiatives and efforts to achieve economic stability. He outlined a range of investment opportunities available in key sectors, including port terminal development, the Colombo Port City project, tourism, energy, and transportation.
President Dissanayake further stated that the government’s goal is to position Sri Lanka as the region’s premier investment hub and leading tourist destination.
The visit by the UAE delegation marks a significant step in strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
