Bogollagama undertakes a visit to Australia

(October 11, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama will be on an official visit to Australia on the invitation of his counterpart, Stephen Smith, from 13th to 16th October 2008. This visit comes after a long lapse, with the last visit by a Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka to Australia being as far back as 1999.

This visit is being undertaken for the purpose of strengthening bilateral relations and to review the entire gamut of ties between the two countries.

The Minister is expected to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Trade, Members of the Australia-Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the Australian Parliament, the Sri Lankan born Governor of the State of Victoria, David de Kretser, among a host of other dignitaries. He will explain the steps taken by the Government in countering terrorism and the re-establishment of democracy in the Eastern Province, among other matters.

Minister Bogollagama will also address a Trade, Tourism and Investment Forum in Sydney and have engagements with the Sri Lankan diaspora in Melbourne and Sydney. In addition, he will also address the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra and the Sydney Centre for International Law. - Sri Lanka Guardian