The Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka Rita Giuliana Manella and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has discussed the potential for further expansion of trade and investment ties, tourism and people-to-people contacts between Sri Lanka and Italy, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. Such discussions took place when the Italian ambassador paid a courtesy call on the Foreign Minister on Thursday (2). The Ambassador also extended her warm felicitations to Minister Peiris on his recent appointment as Foreign Minister. Minister Peiris appreciated the strong, friendly, mutually beneficial partnership existing between Sri Lanka and Italy spanning political, economic and cultural relations. He also alluded to the positive contribution by the Sri Lankan community in Italy towards economic and cultural enrichment of both countries, as well as the recorded history of strong diplomatic ties that existed between Sri Lanka and Rome since 1st century AD. The Italian Ambassador was apprised of Sri Lanka’s regional and multilateral engagements, and it was agreed to continue close dialogue and cooperation on matters of mutual interest.