President Kumaratunga and Head of EU confer in New York
[September 15, 2005 - 10.00 GMT]  

President Chandrika Kumaratunga met with Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso President of the EU Commission yesterday afternoon [14th September] at the UN Head Quarters in New York. After the initial exchange of pleasantries the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

President Kumaratunga expressed her gratitude to Mr. Barroso for the European Union’s immediate response and assistance provided to Sri Lanka after the December 26th tsunami devastation. She also thanked the EU President for the generous GSP concessions granted to Sri Lanka’s apparel exports from this year. This is timely assistance she said after the expiry of the Multi-Fiber Agreement (MFA) in January this year. She said the garment industry is one of Sri Lanka’s major foreign exchange earners and affords employment opportunities to many. Prospects for EU- SAARC corporation were also discussed.

The two leaders then discussed the on going peace efforts in Sri Lanka. They dwelled on the impact of the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar Sri Lanka’s former Foreign Minister on the future of the process.

Associated with President Kumaratunga were Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative at the UN Prasad Kariyawasam and Senior Advisors Jayantha Dhanapala and Mano Tittawella.

 PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to gosl@presidentsl.org with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: September 15, 2005 - 10.00 GMT