Business

Sri Lanka and the European Union (EU) are set to conduct the 27th Session of the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission in Colombo today, December 12. This important meeting will gather high-ranking officials from both parties to discuss and enhance their collaboration in many areas, including governance, human rights, trade, development cooperation, and other mutual and regional interests, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting will be co-chaired by Aruni Ranaraja, who is the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, along with Paola Pampaloni, the Acting Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service (EEAS). The visiting EU delegation will also hold talks with senior officials from Sri Lanka to explore ways to strengthen their ongoing partnership, as stated by the Ministry. Additionally, a meeting took place between Harshana Nanayakkara, the Minister of Justice and National Integration, and EU representatives at the Ministry of Justice and National Integration. This meeting included Paola Pampaloni, Carmen Moreno, the EU Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation in Colombo, Jan Hoskins, the Acting Head of Unit for the Middle East/Gulf, Central Asia, South Asia, from the DG INTPA of the European Commission, as well as Galija Agiševa, the Head of the Political Section and Deputy Head of Delegation at the EU Delegation in Colombo, Ann Vanhout, the Desk Officer for Sri Lanka from the ASIAPAC.6 Division of the European External Action Service, Johann Hesse, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Colombo, and Petros Theodorou, Desk Officer from the DG INTPA of the European Commission, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.