Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2015-09-22

The Establishment of a Joint Committee for Consular Affairs between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates

- The formal diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates (UAE) has commenced in 1979 and in recent years, the relationship has developed, encompassing a number of fields such as employing Sri Lankan employees, culture and education, in addition to trade and investment. Presently, about 250,000 Sri Lankans are employed in the UAE and Sri Lanka anticipates to further extend the existing partnership with the UAE to create more employment opportunities for Sri Lankans, especially in the 'Skilled Category'. At the first session of the Joint Commission between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates held on 26th and 27th of January 2014 at Dubai, the two parties have agreed to establish a Joint Consular Committee, with a view to providing consular protection and assistance to the citizens of both countries. The objective of the establishment of this Committee is to strengthen and develop the cooperation in the Consular field between the two countries. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Establishment of a Joint Committee for Consular Affairs between the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates and also to take appropriate action for the effective implementation of the MOU, was approved by the Cabinet.