SL, Indonesia mull FTA

• Investment in apparel, medical equipment and railway manufacturing discussed  
• Three MoUs on education, drug trafficking and rescue missions signed 
• President invites Indonesian investors to SL
• Both sides discuss regional diplomatic cooperation 

President Maithripala Sirisena and his Indonesian counterpart President Joko Widodo yesterday had wide-ranging discussions on economic and security engagement including possible investments in apparel, medical and railway equipment manufacture and formulating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

Talks between the two presidents took place at the Presidential Secretariat when the Indonesian President met with President Sirisena. President Widodo is in Sri Lanka on a two-day State visit, on an invitation extended by President Sirisena during his previous visit to Jakarta. This is the first visit by an Indonesian President to Sri Lanka in 38 years.

During the meeting President Widodo had assured his country was ready to provide technical assistance to Sri Lanka for the development of a medical equipment manufacturing facility and a railway equipment manufacturing company in Sri Lanka.

Bilateral discussions were held after a cordial meeting between the two leaders, the President’s Office said in a media release.

“Both leaders discussed three main sectors. Priority was given to further strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries, development of individual and institutional capacities and enhancement of India Pacific Islands Cooperation,” it said.

During this meeting, the leaders also discussed the possibility of formulating an FTA.

“Over the last few years, Sri Lanka has become an advantageous investment destination for entrepreneurs, and the President requested the Indonesian President to encourage Indonesian entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.”

The leaders also discussed the further strengthening of cooperation in the garment sector.

The Indonesian President paid special attention to the request made by the President to provide assistance to Sri Lanka to utilise marine resources around Sri Lanka in a productive manner for the economic development of the country.

“The Indonesian President’s visit to Sri Lanka was a unique opportunity for the two countries to further consolidate ties between the two countries,” President Sirisena was quoted as saying and had expressed his gratitude for the hospitality extended to him during his visit to Indonesia in March last year.

Sirisena thanked his Indonesian counterpart for donating 5,000 MT of rice when there was a shortage of rice due to droughts in 2017.

The two countries are celebrating the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.

President Sirisena recalled that the Bandung Conference held in 1955, which paved the way for building the Non-Aligned Movement, which laid the foundation for a new movement of solidarity between newly-liberated countries.

The President asked the Indonesian President to support Sri Lanka’s application to become a dialogue partner in ASEAN. After bilateral discussions, three agreements were signed to enhance cooperation in the presence of the leaders.

An MoU on Higher Education, Research and Technology Cooperation, MoU on Prevention of Illegal Drug Trafficking and an MoU on Search and Rescue Missions were signed.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe, ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Lakshman Kiriella, John Amaratunga, Tilak Marapana, Malik Samarawickrma, Mahinda Amaraweera, Sagala Ratnayaka and D.M. Swaminathan and Secretary to the President Austin Fernando were present at the bilateral meeting.