The Singaporean Foreign Minister agreed to give priority to closer co-operation with Sri Lanka in the Information Technology sector and outsourcing of software by Singapore firms to Sri Lanka.

Minister Peiris invited Singapore companies to set up joint ventures and to consider short term attachments for Sri Lankan officials in infrastructure planning, urban transport and communications. He requested the Building Construction Authority of Singapore to set up a Construction Worker School in Sri Lanka.

He also informed Minister George Yeo that 2011 has been declared “Visit Sri Lanka” year and invited Singaporean investment in the tourism sector in Sri Lanka. He thanked the Government of Singapore for assistance given to the Jaffna Library.

A major business delegation from the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and International Enterprise of Singapore (IE), the Minister was informed, will be visiting Sri Lanka within the next month. The Government of Singapore will also assist Sri Lanka with regard to the training of personnel in the medical, construction and information technology sectors.