The Senior Officials’ Talks is a structured platform to review the bilateral relations between the two countries and to discuss regional and international issues of common interest and concern. Given the number of high level visits that took place between the two countries in 2017, which also marks the 70th anniversary since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties, the Second Round of Talks provided an opportunity to discuss the progress made in the understandings reached during those visits.

The discussions broadly focused on the development partnership, trade and economic cooperation, people to people contacts, reconciliation and human rights, transnational crime and human smuggling, defence cooperation and maritime issues as well as the cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries.

The Senior Officials further discussed possible areas for future collaboration focusing on fields of defence & combatting transnational crimes, science & technology, agriculture, trade & investment, development issues, and regional cooperation.

First Assistant Secretary, South and West Asia Division, Kathy Klugman led the Australian delegation and the Sri Lankan delegation was headed by Additional Secretary Sumith Nakanadala.