Thursday Oct 04, 2007
COLOMBO: Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama signed two MoUs with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The Two MoUs were on Combating International Terrorism and the Establishment of a Joint Commission for bilateral cooperation, states a Foreign Ministry press release.

The MoU on Combating International Terrorism provides both countries with a framework for cooperation in preventing, suppressing and combating international terrorism as well as transnational organised crime including money laundering, through information sharing and exchange of intelligence.

The MoU on the establishment of a Joint Commission for bilateral cooperation will strengthen existing relations in all aspects.

Before the signing of the MoU, the two Foreign Ministers held bilateral discussions where a number of matters of regional and international interest were taken up.

In this connection Minister Bogollagama stressed the importance of greater understanding and cooperation among the member countries of groupings such as the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and the ASEAN Regional Forum to address in particular natural disasters and terrorism.

Bogollagama mentioned that Sri lanka would be hosting the ACD in 2009 which would highlight the multifaceted dimension of regional cooperation and boost connectivity within the group; in particular he proposed the increase of direct flights between the capitals Colombo and Jakarta.

There was also a discussion on the availability of ferries from Indonesia for transportation of passengers in the North and East.

Both Ministers were confident that the bilateral relationship was progressing well with beneficial and productive results.