On August 10, 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Ruslan Kazakbaev received copies of the credentials of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mohan Wijewickrama.

Minister R.Kazakbaev, having greeted the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, congratulated him on the appointment and wished him success in his new post. The minister emphasized that friendly Kyrgyz-Sri Lankan relations were established back in the Soviet period of Kyrgyzstan’s history, when the Kyrgyz diplomat Kenesh Kulmatov was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USSR to Sri Lanka in 1985-1990.

During the meeting, issues of bilateral political, trade and economic cooperation were discussed. In particular, in order to intensify bilateral relations, the parties stressed the need to strengthen the legal framework and exchange visits at high and highest levels between the two countries.

In this regard, the drafts agreements on the development of cooperation in various fields have been handed over to the Sri Lankan side for consideration. The Ambassador of Sri Lanka was asked to convey an invitation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Mr. Dinesh Gunawarden to pay an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic.

They also exchanged views on topical international issues of mutual interest. In particular, Minister R.Kazakbaev expressed a request to support the candidacy of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2023-2025 and Non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the period 2027-2028 with the presentation of an official message to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena.

In addition, the Minister requested the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to assist in the return of the citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic DZakharov to his homeland, which is awaiting the final decision of the court in Sri Lanka.

At the end of the meeting, Minister R.Kazakbaev, along with wishes of success in his responsible work to the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, invited him to take part in the festive events timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Kyrgyz Republic, which are scheduled for August 30 and 31, 2021.