[By Janaka Alahapperuma]

Prime Minister of Belarus, Professor Mikhail Myasnikovich warmly received President Mahinda Rajapaksa as he arrived for bilateral talks at the Government House in Minsk yesterday afternoon on 26 August.

During the bilateral discussions the two countries identified a number of areas for joint ventures including the areas of manufacturing, agricultural and military equipment, and the production of dairy products. Both leaders confirmed the mutual interests in sectors such as mechanical engineering, high technology, education, construction and tourism. Bilateral cooperation of Belarus and Sri Lanka in the international forums also discussed during governmental meeting.

Right after the meeting in the Government House, the two leaders and the officials joined the business circles of the two countries. Multiple agreements, among which is the cooperation agreement between the National Center for Marketing and Price Conjuncture of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka, were signed within the framework of the business forum.

The delegation of Sri Lanka is interested in export of certain Belarusian goods such as sugar, tires and oil products. Therefore the heads of the states agreed on setting up joint ventures for those industries.

The Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Russia accredited to Belarus Udayanga Weeratunga, and Additional Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Seneviratne also took part in the bilateral discussion.

Pix by: Sudath Silva