Minister applauds Israel - Sri Lanka ties

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Sri Lanka appreciates the assistance received from Israel particularly in its fight against terrorism. Israel had been one of the very few countries that stood by Sri Lanka during the test of time said the Minister of Productivity Promotion Lakshman Seneviratna, who was the chief guest at the 64th Independence Day of the State of Israel celebrations held in Colombo recently.

He said Sri Lanka appreciates and thanks Israel for the long term assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction in the aftermath of 2004 Tsunami, sharing their expertise on Water Management and Irrigation in the Dry Zone.

Israel is one of the few countries that had come forward to join hands in the post conflict reconstruction and development activities. He said the excellent relations that have existed between Sri Lanka and Israel have grown in the fields of economic cooperation, agriculture, technology, labour, migration etc.

The relations between the two countries have increased rapidly with the establishment of the Israeli Sri Lanka Parliamentary League which was established in 2006. The visit to Israel by Sri Lanka's then Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanyake in 2006 was the turning point in our bilateral relations. Bilateral agreement on culture, education and science signed during this visit brought the two countries closer than ever before.

The visit of Namal Rajapaska, MP the special envoy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the visit of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who led a parliamentary delegation to Israel were the milestones in our bilateral relations. On an invitation extended by Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena the Minister of Agriculture, the Israeli Minister of Agriculture visited Sri Lanka along with an official delegation.