Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Khadka paid a courtesy call on President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the latter’s office in Colombo on Wednesday.

On the occasion, the President recalled the long-standing warm and cordial relations existing between Nepal and Sri Lanka and underscored the need to further strengthen economic ties for mutual benefit, read a statement issued by the Embassy of Nepal in Colombo.

Khadka commended the President and the Government of Sri Lanka for successfully hosting the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit and stressed the importance of promoting cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, connectivity, energy, and people-to-people contacts in the region.

Later today, the Foreign minister also held a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart G.L. Peiris at the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka.

The two ministers discussed the matters of mutual interests, including pandemic recovery, economic partnership, cultural contacts, and regional cooperation, the statement read.

Foreign Minister Khadka will leave Colombo for Kathmandu tomorrow morning.