Sri Lanka Seeks Closer Cooperation with France and the EU: Deputy Minister Arun

09-Jun-2026

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Arun Hemachandra has stated that Sri Lanka expects to strengthen cooperation with France and the European Union in the coming years in areas such as sustainable development, trade, investment, climate action, digital transformation, and maritime cooperation.

He made these remarks at an event held in Colombo to mark the 20th anniversary of the French Development Agency in Sri Lanka, attended by the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka Rémi Lambert, EU Ambassador Carmen Moreno, and senior officials.

The Deputy Minister noted that the agency’s contribution to Sri Lanka began during the country’s recovery following the tsunami disaster and has since grown into a strong bilateral partnership.

He added that French assistance has supported key sectors such as water supply, sanitation, urban development, green energy, and climate-resilient development, contributing directly to improving living standards and strengthening communities.