The upcoming second meeting of the strategic dialogue between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom is set to convene in Colombo on May 7, 2024, at the senior officials' level.
This pivotal gathering aims to assess the progress and developments in foreign and security policies, alongside advancing bilateral engagement across various sectors such as trade, investment, tourism, climate change, environment protection, migration, and maritime cooperation, among other pertinent areas.
Additionally, the meeting will provide a platform to evaluate the collaborative efforts of both nations at international forums, including the United Nations and Commonwealth. Notably, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom commemorated 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2023, further underscoring the significance of their enduring friendship, highlighted by the visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne.
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. The delegation will engage in bilateral discussions with Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane. On the UK side, the delegation will be headed by Ben Meller, Director of the India and Indian Ocean Directorate at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), alongside High Commissioner Andrew Patrick, Head of the Sri Lanka team in the FCDO, Humairaa Haita, and other officials from the High Commission, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant government agencies.
