Sri Lanka,Iraq seeks stronger ties

Sri Lanka,Iraq seeks stronger ties

Sri Lanka and Iraq today discussed the mutual relations and ways of strengthening them when Iraq's Labor and Social Affairs Minister Nassar al-Rubaie called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning at the President's Office.President Rajapaksa, remembering his own numerous visits to Iraq decades ago, said relations between the two countries must be strengthened to the level they were many years ago.

Minister al-Rubaie also requested for Sri Lanka’s assistance in the construction sector. While the Minister pointed out the great need in Iraq for new structures, President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka has a very experienced construction sector and that businesses could make good use of this opportunity.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris extended an invitation to Iraq to send a high-level delegation to the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) that will take place on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 in November.Minister al-Rubaie accepted the invitation and agreed to send a delegation.