The signing ceremony of these six bilateral agreements took place this morning between the Sri Lanka Minister for External Affairs, Professor G. L. Peiris and the Seychelles Designated Minister, Vincent Meriton at State House in Victoria, this morning.

The ceremony was witnessed by the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Seychelles President, James Michel.

The signing ceremony was preceded by a bilateral meeting attended also by Seychelles Vice President Danny Faure,as well as Sri Lankan and Seychellois ministers,  and officials from the Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Sports, Environment,  Environment  ministries and the National Assembly.

Both heads of state attended the opening of the bilateral meeting  followed by a private tete-a-tete meeting.  

During the meeting Rajapaksa expressed Sri Lanka’ interest in developing the Blue Economy concept as well as their participation in the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Forum to be held in Samoa September 2014, according to a press statement from the Seychelles' office of the President.

"The partnership that we have forged shows the rest of the world that we can achieve the south-south cooperation. Sri Lanka has a lot to offer and we can also share our experiences," said Michel in the statement.

HC/Courtesy:Seychelles News Agency