Minister of Youth & Sports, Minister of Development Co-ordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development of Sri Lanka Namal Rajapaksa visited the Sultanate of Oman at the invitation extended by Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of Oman Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham bin Tarik al Said and participated as a special guest at the inaugural ceremony of the final qualifiers of T20 Cricket World Cup 2021 hosted first time by Oman on 17th October 2021 at Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Al Amerat. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Sultanate of Oman Ameer Ajwad also attended the inaugural ceremony together with the Minister. Foreign Minister of the Sultanate Oman Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Oman Sayyid Taimur bin Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidi and ICC Chairman Sourav Ganguly also graced the inaugural ceremony among other dignitaries.
Minister Namal Rajapaksa held a bilateral meeting with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham bins Tarik al Said on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony. During the discussion they explored ways and means to further promoting bilateral cooperation in the areas of mutual interest with particular focus on sports and youth affairs. A comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Sports between the two friendly countries was also suggested during the meeting.
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat organized a series of meetings for the visiting Minister Namal Rajapaksa. A bilateral meeting between Minister Namal Rajapaksa and Saeed bin Hamoud bin Saeed al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of the Sultanate of Oman was held on 18th October 2021 and both Ministers agreed to establish collaboration between the two countries in the areas of ICT, maritime connectivity as well as ports cooperation.
Minister Namal Rajapaksa also held a productive meeting with the Chairman of Oman Hockey Association, Marwan Al Juma and proposed new initiatives such as organizing club level hockey tournaments between the two countries to mark the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations being commemorated between Sri Lanka and Oman this year. Minister also proposed organizing four – nation Hockey Championship competitions with a view to identifying future talents and enhancing cooperation among the hockey playing nations.
Speaking to the State-owned English news daily, “Oman Observer”, Minister Namal Rajapaksa hailed the development of cricket in Oman and congratulated the Government of Oman for hosting a colourful ICC T20 World Cup 2021 inauguration first time in the Sultanate with a performance by Royal Cavalry’s all-women mounted band coinciding Oman’s Women’s Day.
Minister Namal Rajapaksa also visited Sri Lankan School Muscat (SLSM) and had fruitful discussions on enhancing sports facilities in the school and providing opportunities at national level for the children of Sri Lankan expatriates who excel in sports.
The Embassy also organised a luncheon meeting at Hormuz Grand Muscat with potential investors with a view to promoting investment opportunities that are unfolding in Sri Lanka including Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone.
A tour at the National Museum of Oman was also organised for the visiting Minister and the delegation to familiarise themselves with the rich history and culture of the Sultanate of Oman.
Ambassador Ameer Ajwad expressed his sincere appreciation to His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham bin Tarik, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of Oman for the invitation extended to Minister Namal Rajapaksa, to participate as a special guest at the inauguration of the final qualifiers of T20 Cricket World Cup 2021 hosted first time in Oman which coincidentally took place during the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Sultanate of Oman this year. Ambassador Ameer Ajwad stated that this high profile visit will serve as a catalyst to further elevate the bilateral relations that happily exist between the two countries into new heights in the years to come.
