President James Michel is on a state visit in Sri Lanka at the invitation of its President, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

A communiqué from State House says that this visit – the first official visit of President Michel to Sri Lanka – is expected to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

Discussions are expected to focus on fisheries, legal affairs, health and education cooperation, as well as opportunities to enhance trade and investment between Seychelles and Sri Lanka.

“As two Indian Ocean states, Seychelles and Sri Lanka have a lot of experiences and opportunities to share with each other. In times of global economic crisis and fierce global competition for market access, it is important to boost for south-south cooperation and increase commerce and investment in the region, as well as our competitiveness.

“Seychelles is also interested in joining hands with Sri Lanka in order to further develop the concept of the blue economy as a means to protecting and better utilising marine resources for the mutual benefit of both countries,” said the President.

President Michel is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam, Natural Resources and Industry Minister Peter Sinon, and the Seychelles high commissioner to Sri Lanka, Waven William, who is resident in New Delhi.

Forrás: www.nation.sc