June 07, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena held a discussion with Mauritius High Commissioner Haymandoyal Dillum about the expansion of trade and investment relations between the two countries. During the meeting at Temple Trees on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the Prime Minister urged the exploration of investments in new areas, including power and energy.
The High Commissioner invited Sri Lanka to join the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), assuring support from Mauritius for Sri Lanka’s membership. SIDS comprises 29 island states, including Singapore, Mauritius, and Maldives.
They also discussed close collaboration in multilateral organizations such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), where both countries are founder members, and the African Union, where Mauritius is a member and Sri Lanka has Observer Status.
Over the past six years, Sri Lankan exports to Mauritius have grown at an annualized rate of 37.7%, from $768k in 2017 to $7.5 million in 2023. Prime Minister Gunawardena emphasized the need to further diversify trade.
High Commissioner Dillum expressed satisfaction with the rapid recovery of tourism in Sri Lanka and highlighted the potential for collaboration in the hospitality industry. He noted that both countries share common tourist attractions, such as beautiful beaches and holiday resorts, and suggested that Mauritius could provide expertise in this sector. He also praised the contribution of Sri Lankans employed in Mauritius to both economies, and Prime Minister Gunawardena thanked the Mauritius government for providing employment opportunities to Sri Lankans.
Parliamentarian Yadamini Gunawardena, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, and other senior officials were present during the meeting.
