The eagerly anticipated second meeting of the strategic dialogue between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom is slated to convene in Colombo on May 7, 2024, at the senior officials’ level.
This significant gathering will focus on reviewing advancements in foreign and security policies while assessing the progress made in various facets of bilateral engagement. Key areas of discussion will encompass trade, investment, tourism, climate change, environmental protection, migration, and maritime cooperation, among others.
Moreover, the dialogue will provide a platform to evaluate the collaborative efforts of both nations within international forums, including the United Nations and the Commonwealth.
The commemoration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom in 2023 reaffirmed the enduring friendship between the two countries, with the visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne serving as a poignant reminder of this milestone.
Leading the Sri Lankan delegation at the second Strategic Dialogue will be Shobini Gunasekera, Director General of Europe and North America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who will engage in bilateral discussions with Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane.
Representing the UK side will be Ben Meller, Director of the India and Indian Ocean Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), accompanied by High Commissioner Andrew Patrick, Head of the Sri Lanka team at the FCDO, Humairaa Haita, and officials from the High Commission, along with counterparts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other pertinent government agencies.
