Minister Samaraweera to visit Slovenia

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera was due to leave today for the Republic of Slovenia on an invitation extended by the Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karl Erjavec.

The Minister is due to return on September 8. This is the first high-level visit from Sri Lanka to the Republic of Slovenia since the Government took office in January last year.

Minister Samaraweera will attend the Bled Strategic Forum 2016: 'Safeguarding the Future' where he will speak on 'Human Security: You and I Matter' alongside panelists from Norway, Japan, Austria, Bangladesh, University of Toronto and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The Minister is also expected to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary and officials from the region.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that bilateral events on the agenda include meetings with the Slovenian Prime Minister and President, including his Slovenian counterpart and Minister of Economic Development and Technology.

The Minister is also expected to address the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies in Ljubljana during the bilateral segment.

"The visit is expected to renew the longstanding bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Slovenia and open new avenues of cooperation in the economic, and science and technology sectors," the statement said.