Calling on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo last Monday (26) morning, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dominik Furgler discussed a number of areas to further co-operation between the two countries, including investment, exports, tourism, and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
[caption id="attachment_103020" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dominik Furgler meets Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees, 26 October 2020. Photo Prime Minister Media Unit[/caption]
The Ambassador commended the manner in which the Government of Sri Lanka is responding to the coronavirus outbreak by “publishing clear rules and enforcing them”, stated the Prime Minister’s Office.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa said that while lockdowns and health precautions can be difficult on everyone, sometimes it’s necessary to keep people safe.
“I admire the way you deal with the Covid. I feel safer this way,” Ambassador Furgler said.
To contribute to the Sri Lankan Government’s efforts to contain the outbreak, the Swiss Government is providing assistance to Sri Lanka with equipment that would enable faster PCR tests at the airport. This is also part of a collaboration to try to revive tourism to Sri Lanka once the situation improves.
Towards that end, the Swiss Government has also provided technical assistance to the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) to upgrade infrastructure, provide training, and develop the curriculum.
The two delegations also discussed investments and exports. With economic development being a priority of the Government, the Ambassador said he will work on bringing in more Swiss investments. Switzerland is currently the eighth largest investor in Sri Lanka.
With regard to exports, the delegations discussed ways in which Sri Lanka can further diversify the export product range to Switzerland to reap greater benefits from the Swiss GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) Plus (GSP+) facility. Currently, major exports from Sri Lanka to Switzerland include apparel, black tea, seafood, and gems and jewellery.
Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dominik Furgler meets Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees, 26 October 2020. Photo Prime Minister Media Unit[/caption]
The Ambassador commended the manner in which the Government of Sri Lanka is responding to the coronavirus outbreak by “publishing clear rules and enforcing them”, stated the Prime Minister’s Office.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa said that while lockdowns and health precautions can be difficult on everyone, sometimes it’s necessary to keep people safe.
“I admire the way you deal with the Covid. I feel safer this way,” Ambassador Furgler said.
To contribute to the Sri Lankan Government’s efforts to contain the outbreak, the Swiss Government is providing assistance to Sri Lanka with equipment that would enable faster PCR tests at the airport. This is also part of a collaboration to try to revive tourism to Sri Lanka once the situation improves.
Towards that end, the Swiss Government has also provided technical assistance to the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) to upgrade infrastructure, provide training, and develop the curriculum.
The two delegations also discussed investments and exports. With economic development being a priority of the Government, the Ambassador said he will work on bringing in more Swiss investments. Switzerland is currently the eighth largest investor in Sri Lanka.
With regard to exports, the delegations discussed ways in which Sri Lanka can further diversify the export product range to Switzerland to reap greater benefits from the Swiss GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) Plus (GSP+) facility. Currently, major exports from Sri Lanka to Switzerland include apparel, black tea, seafood, and gems and jewellery.