Politics

A high-level meeting took place to discuss how to strengthen the long-standing relationship between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. The discussion occurred when Wiebe de Boer, the Netherlands Ambassador to Sri Lanka, visited Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), the Deputy Minister of Defence, at the Ministry of Defence in Colombo. According to the Ministry of Defence, the two sides talked about shared interests and looked for ways to enhance their bilateral ties. The Deputy Minister expressed gratitude on behalf of Sri Lanka’s President and its people for the Netherlands’ ongoing support, especially during and after the recent disaster that affected the country, in partnership with the European Union (EU). He also thanked the Netherlands for its important role in the “Design and Construction of Rural Bridges Project,” a key initiative that aims to improve rural connectivity, livelihoods, and the quality of life for communities across Sri Lanka. The Ambassador praised Sri Lanka's recovery efforts following recent disasters and confirmed the Netherlands’ dedication to sharing knowledge and expertise, especially in disaster risk reduction, which aligns with Sri Lanka’s main development goals. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining strong and friendly relations and expressed optimism about the growth of their partnership in the coming years.