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June 27th, 2016 
Awake Goy 
nsnbc : Sri Lanka and the Ukraine signed three bilateral treaties during the visit of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin. The treaties encompass judicial cooperation, Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners, and on Extradition.
The two foreign ministers discussed a series of bilateral issues besides those encompassed in the agreements. Samaraweera noted that Sri Lanka is committed to further strengthen and renew the long-standing relationship with Ukraine. He also recalled the invaluable support extended to Sri Lanka by Ukraine during the years of conflict in Sri Lanka.
Samaraweera briefed his Klimkin on recent developments in Sri Lanka including measures taken by the Unity Government to achieve reconciliation and inclusive economic development, strengthen democracy, rule of law, and good governance including combating corruption. He also briefed the Ukrainian Foreign Minister on the process of evolving a new Constitution.
Klimkin, for his part, noted that Samaraweera’s visit would contribute to the reinvigoration of relations between the two countries. Reiterating Ukraine’s support for Sri Lanka in its efforts in reconciliation and peace building, he said Ukraine and Sri Lanka were similar in their drive in promoting democracy and ending corruption. Minister Samaraweera, in return, extended an invitation to Klimkin to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time which was accepted by Minister Klimkin. This would be the first visit of a Foreign Minister of Ukraine to Sri Lanka.
Klimkin and Samaraweera agreed that there is a potential for further expansion of bilateral trade. Noting that tea remains the main export item from Sri Lanka to Ukraine with Ceylon tea occupying 33% of the Ukraine tea market, Samaraweera stressed the need for achieving export diversification. He encouraged business delegations from Ukraine to attend trade exhibitions and business forums held in Sri Lanka to establish contacts with Sri Lankan entrepreneurs.
The need to strengthen cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce of the two countries to facilitate closer interaction between the private sectors of the two countries for the promotion of business and investment was also emphasized.
Samaraweera noted that 23,853 tourists from Ukraine have visited Sri Lanka in 2015, He expressed hope that the commencement of direct non-stop scheduled flights between Kiev and Colombo by Ukraine International Airlines from November 2016 would pave the way for increasing tourist traffic from Ukraine to Sri Lanka. Samaraweera also invited Ukrainian companies to participate in development projects in Sri Lanka. Tourism and infrastructure development, power generation and transmission, oil exploration and oil refining were identified as areas of interest for possible collaboration by Ukrainian companies.
Klimkin and Samaraweera also noted that the two countries are in the process of negotiating a number of other bilateral agreements including Agreements on Investment Promotion and Protection; on the Establishment of an Inter-Governmental Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation; on Exemption of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports; and on Cultural Cooperation; the two Ministers agreed to accelerate consultations, enabling the early signing of these Agreements.
Sri Lanka and Ukraine established diplomatic relations in 1992, but relations between the two countries go back to the establishment of formal relations between Sri Lanka and the former USSR in 1957.
CH/L – nsnbc 28.06.2916
Source Article from http://nsnbc.me/2016/06/28/sri-lanka-and-ukraine-sign-three-bilateral-treaties/
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