Sri Lanka and Lebanon Reaffirm Strong Bilateral Relations During Courtesy Call on Lebanese Foreign Minister

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Lebanese Republic, Anura Withanage, paid a  courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of the Lebanese Republic,  Youssef Rajji, and met with Ambassador and Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of Foreign  Affairs and Emigrants, Albert Samaha, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beirut.  

The meeting was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere and provided an excellent  opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding friendship and close bilateral relations between  Sri Lanka and Lebanon.  

Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including  diplomacy, trade, tourism, labour relations, and people-to-people exchanges. During the  meeting, Ambassador Withanage conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka, as well as those of Minister of Foreign Affairs,  Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Herath. He also expressed his  sincere appreciation for the Lebanese Foreign Minister's warm sentiments towards Sri  Lanka and his continued support for strengthening bilateral relations.  

Minister Rajji expressed his admiration for Sri Lanka and conveyed his keen interest in  undertaking an official visit to Sri Lanka in the future. Ambassador Withanage warmly  welcomed this interest and extended a cordial invitation for the Minister to visit Sri Lanka  to experience its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking natural beauty, and renowned  hospitality.  

The Lebanese Foreign Minister also paid tribute to the Sri Lankan community in Lebanon,  expressing his sincere appreciation for the valuable contribution made by Sri Lankan  migrant workers to Lebanese society over many years. He commended their  professionalism, dedication, and hard work, and noted with appreciation that the Sri  Lankan community has earned an excellent reputation for being law-abiding, respectful,  and well-integrated into Lebanese society. He thanked Sri Lankan migrant workers for  their continued service and positive contribution to the country's economic and social  development.  

Ambassador Withanage expressed his gratitude for the Lebanese Government's  recognition of the invaluable role played by Sri Lankan nationals in Lebanon and  reaffirmed Sri Lanka's commitment to further strengthening cooperation in labour,  economic, cultural, and diplomatic fields.  

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening the  longstanding friendship and expanding bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of the  people of Sri Lanka and Lebanon. Ambassador Withanage also looked forward to  working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon to further  enhance the excellent partnership between the two countries.