Mangala to visit Europe

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will visit Norway and Finland for bilateral talks next week.

In Norway, the Minister will meet his counterpart, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Meetings are also likely to be held with other Ministers of the Norwegian government where issues of varying bilateral interests to the two countries will be discussed.

Minister Samaraweera will also receive an audience with the King of Norway, Harald V, at the Royal Palace, and call on Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

A business investment promotion seminar is scheduled at Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO).

The Foreign Minister will thereafter visit Finland, where he will meet with the Foreign Minister Erkki Tumioja of Finland, and hold bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interests to the two countries. The visit to Finland becomes important in the context of Finland assuming presidency of the EU from the 1st July this year.

Minister Samaraweera is also expected to interact with sections of the Sri Lankan diaspora in both Norway and Finland.