Turkish FM in Sri Lanka for two-day state visit

By Nazli Yuzbasioglu

ANKARA

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday for a two-day official visit.

During his stay, Cavusoglu will meet with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena; Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe; Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera; International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema; and Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, a number of issues will be discussed and cooperation agreements signed during Cavusoglu’s visit, particularly in the fields of travel documentation and information exchange.

Turkey-Sri Lanka relations date back to 1864, when the Ottoman imperial authorities appointed Hassen Lebbe Marikkar as honorary consul in Sri Lanka.

After the island nation gained independence in 1948, Turkey’s ambassador to New Delhi was also accredited for Sri Lanka.

Last year’s trade volume between the two countries amounted to some $139 million, with Turkey importing some $51 million worth of Sri Lankan goods and Sri Lanka importing some $88 million worth of Turkish products.

*Anadolu Agency Correspondent Ahmet Sait Akcay contributed to this report from Ankara.