Seychelles Foreign Minister visiting the island
The Foreign Minister of Seychelles, Jean Paul Adams arrives in the island.The Seychelles Foreign Minister reached the island this morning. is on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris. During his stay, the Seychelles Minister is to meet Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Rajitha Senaratne, and Risath Bathiyuideen to enhance bilateral cooperation in the economic, trade and fisheries sectors. Sri Lanka began its diplomatic ties with Seychelles in 1988, and Sri Lanka Mission in South Africa is accredited to Seychelles.
The present visit of Seychelles Foreign Minister is the first high level visit from Seychelles in the recent past. Seychelles and Sri Lanka have been working very closely as Members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation and as members of the Commonwealth Group.
In the meantime, the Seychelles Foreign Minister Jean Paul Adams said that small countries should not think in a small way. He made this reference during a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Prof. G.L. Peiris at the External Affairs Ministry this evening. The two Ministers discussed at length the “Blue Economy” – how the resources of the ocean can enhance the economies of island nations. Their talks also dealt on controlling piracy, education, health and the tourism industry. He revealed that the President of the Seychelles is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka before the end of the year.
