Colombo, Oct. 22 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka and Romania have discussed strengthening cooperation on the welfare and protection of approximately 26,000 Sri Lankans living and working in Romania, including through Government-to-Government recruitment arrangements.
The matter was discussed at the Sixth Round of Bilateral Political Consultations held in Bucharest, where both countries explored ways to enhance cooperation in foreign employment, social security, pension protection and the recognition of professional qualifications.
The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, who co-chaired the consultations with Romanian State Secretary for Strategic and Global Affairs Ana-Cristina Tinca.
Both sides also discussed addressing issues faced by Sri Lankan workers in obtaining recognition for their driving licences in Romania.
The consultations covered opportunities to expand trade and investment, promote tourism and educational exchanges, and strengthen people-to-people relations.
The two delegations also explored ways to improve maritime connectivity between the Port of Colombo and Romania’s Port of Constanța, with a view to strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
Regional and global developments were also reviewed during the discussions.
With Sri Lanka and Romania preparing to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to translating their longstanding friendship into practical benefits for their countries and peoples.
The Sri Lankan delegation also included Sri Lankan Ambassador to Romania Samantha Pathirana, Director General of the Europe and North America Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Dilani Weerakoon, and Counsellor at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bucharest Prarthana Kaushalya.
The consultations marked a further step towards strengthening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
