New Zealand supports for Sri Lanka to hold CHOGM 2013

New Zealand supports for Sri Lanka to hold CHOGM 2013

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully reaffirmed its support for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that will take place in Sri Lanka in November 2013.

The New Zealand Minister wished Sri Lanka well in preparing for CHOGM and said the entire Commonwealth needs to see the progress in the country, pointing out that success in trade and the economy is important to the process.

New Zealand Minister also held discussions on several other areas including agriculture, tourism and education with the President Rajapaksa.tourism and education.New Zealand expressed interest in supporting model farms in Sri Lanka as well as increasing tourism between both countries. In the education sector, New Zealand hopes to increase scholarships for tertiary education across the board, particularly in the field of agricultural, and the Foreign Minister said this includes more Commonwealth scholarships as well.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Karunatilaka Amunugama, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Australia who is also accredited to New Zealand, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe participated in the discussions at Temple Trees.