May 20, Colombo (LNW): During an official visit to Indonesia, President Ranil Wickremesinghe met with Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs.
The meeting occurred on Sunday, 19 May, at the United In Diversity Bali Campus on Kura Kura Bali Island, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.
Discussions focused on critical issues such as the Global Blended Finance Alliance, Sri Lanka’s Tropical Belt Initiative, the Blue Economy, and the Seaweed Industry.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation among Global South nations and establishing a collaborative research programme on mangrove cultivation.
Both parties agreed on the necessity of creating a bilateral task force to oversee these initiatives, considering Sri Lanka’s current role as the chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
The Sri Lankan delegation included Minister of Water Supply and Estates Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman, Senior Advisor to the President on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardane, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, and Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Climate Change Dr. Anil Jasinghe.
The Indonesian delegation comprised Ayodhia G.L. Kalake, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investments; Nani Hendiarti, Deputy Minister for Environment and Forestry Managements; Rachmat Kaimuddin, Deputy Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investments in Infrastructure and Transportation; Firman Hidayat, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Maritime Resources; and Cherie Nursalim, Special Advisor on Climate Change.
