The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Qatar was established in June 1997 to strengthen bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the State of Qatar. The Embassy promotes political, cultural, trade and investments, consular and labour relations. read more>>
Sri Lanka Ambassador to Qatar H.E. Jayantha Palipane presenting his Letters of Credence to H.H. Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, The Emir of the State of Qatar at the Wajba Palace.
H.E. Mr. Jayantha Palipane, Ambassador held discussions with H.E. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiya the Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Emir Diwan in November 2011.
The State visit to Sri Lanka of the Emir of Qatar
His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar who visited Sri Lanka on an invitation extended by H.E. the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, concluded his two - day official visit on 16th January 2012. It was the first visit by a Head of State from that country to Sri Lanka. The high level delegation accompanied by the Qatari Emir comprised of ministers, senior officials and a group of prominent business leaders.
President, H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister of External Affairs, Hon (Prof.) G.L. Peiris received the Emir of Qatar on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport. The Emir of Qatar was accorded a Guard of Honor by the Sri Lanka Navy followed by a 21 Gun Salute by the Sri Lanka Army. The senior ministers, Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Environment, Hon. A.H.M. Fowzie, Senior Minister for Urban Affairs, Hon. Felix Perera, Minister of Social Services, Hon. Piyankara Jayaratne, Minister of Civil Aviation, Hon. Alavi Moulana, Governor of Western Province, Hon. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Monitoring M.P., Ministry of External Affairs, Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, M.P., Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to H.E. the President and Mr. K. Amunugama, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and the Ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) greeted the H.H the Emir of Qatar at the receiving line.
The Emir of Qatar and the President of Sri Lanka conducted bilateral discussions at the Presidential Secretariat on 15th January 2012. The meeting was held in a frank and cordial atmosphere reflecting the excellent bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries. President Rajapaksa extended a warm welcome to the Qatari Emir and appreciated the valued assistance rendered by Qatar for Sri Lanka’s socio economic development and infrastructure projects. The Qatari Emir, while recalling his meeting with President Rajapaksa at the United Nations in New York in 2011, appreciated the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to the Qatari delegation and praised President Rajapaksa for his vision and leadership to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for the people of Sri Lanka. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment and willingness to strengthen prevailing cordial bilateral relations between the two countries to a new height in the years to come. They also observed that bilateral relations between the two countries have developed and diversified in recent years and expressed their resolve for furtherance of such mutually rewarding partnership in the years ahead.
While noting his desire to work with Sri Lanka to promote bilateral economic cooperation, the Qatari Emir assured President Rajapaksa of increased Qatari investments in tourism, hotels, financial sectors etc. The President was accompanied by several ministers, ministry secretaries and heads of government institutions while the Qatari Emir was joined by ministers and senior officials of the Qatari Government.
Marking an important mile-stone in Sri Lanka-Qatari relations, nine (9) Bilateral Agreements/MoUs were inked between the two countries covering investment, economic cooperation, tourism, education, agriculture and legal fields in addition to the agreement signed for the formation of a high joint committee between Qatar and Sri Lanka.
The ministers and members of the business delegation who accompanied the Qatari Emir held discussions with their Sri Lankan counterparts to further strengthen the prevailing trade links and to explore potential investment opportunities in trade, tourism and other promising sectors of interest.
The long standing excellent relations and friendship between the two countries have been further strengthened by the visits of the Qatari Premier and Foreign Minister in November 2011 and that of the Qatari Emir to Sri Lanka. The bilateral relations were further enhanced following the opening of a resident mission in Doha by Sri Lanka in 1997 and the reciprocal opening of the resident Embassy of Qatar in Colombo in 2004 which have come a long way to facilitate over one hundred thousand (100,000) job opportunities for the Sri Lankan expatriates in Qatar. The two day official visit of H.H. Emir of Qatar to Sri Lanka is a clear manifestation of Sri Lanka – Qatar joint efforts in pursuing and promoting closer economic cooperation and mutually beneficial bonds between the two countries in all spheres of interest. The visit has also provided a golden opportunity for the Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to venture into the Qatari market in general and the Gulf Cooperation Council (G.C.C.) market in particular by way of enhancing their trade ties with their Qatari counterparts.
The agreements signed are;
(1) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of a High Joint Committee between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
(2) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cooperation in Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
(3) Agreement on Economic, Commercial and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
(4) Agreement of Cooperation in the Field of Culture between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
(5) Agreement for Cooperation in the Legal field between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
(6) Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
(7) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the State of Qatar for the Establishment of Air Services
(8) Memorandum of Understanding concerning Real Estate Investment Cooperation between the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (“BOI”) and the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company (Qatari Diar).
(9) Memorandum of Understanding concerning Investment Cooperation between the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and Qatar Holding LLC
Ministry of External Affairs
Colombo
16th January 2012
The Qatari Premier concludes his official visit to Sri Lanka
Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar paid an official visit to Sri Lanka from 12th to 13th December, 2011 accompanied by Youse Hussain Kamal, Minister of Economy and Finance and over 20 heads of Qatari investment agencies together with a high powered business delegation. The Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, External Affairs Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris and the Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation, Dr. Sarath Amunugama received the Qatari Prime Minister on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport. The Qatari Premier was accorded a red carpet welcome and a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Air Force. This was the first official visit of a Qatari Prime Minister to Sri Lanka since the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries in 1995.
The Qatari Prime Minister on December 12 (Monday), evening met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat for bilateral discussions. Several Cabinet Ministers, Secretaries to the Ministries and heads of some Government Institutions were present at the bilateral discussions. Qatari Premier expressed his sincere appreciation to President Rajapaksa for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and reiterated Qatar’s firm resolve to further strengthening of multifaceted relations with Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa briefed the Qatari counterpart on the post war development, peace, and reconciliation in the country and the potential investment opportunities exist for the international community to partake in the emerging sectors in the Sri Lankan economy.
The Qatari Prime Minister praised President Rajapaksa over the achievements of the Government of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the conflict and emphasized the need for closer links between the two countries in the economic cooperation and investment promotion. The Qatari premier also said that the Government of the State of Qatar and its investors are ready to invest in the mega hotel projects in tourist zones of Sri Lanka.
The Qatari Prime Minister informed that a group of leading Qatari investors will visit Sri Lanka to explore the possibilities for mobilization of more Qatar investment in the tourism industry and also infrastructure projects in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
He reiterated that the prevailing bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Government of Sri Lanka will further be strengthened for the benefit of the two countries in the years ahead.
President Rajapaksa hosted the Qatari Premier and the delegation to a Banquet at the president’s house that evening.
On December 13, 2011, Minister of External Affairs, Prof Peiris called on the Qatari Prime Minister. During the discussion with the Qatari Premier, the External Affairs Minister expressing his gratitude for the interest shown by the Qatari Premier to select Sri Lanka as a potential investment site, briefed the delegates on the potential opportunities in the tourism sector including development of tourist resorts and the investment opportunities in the Colombo Stock Exchange.
The Qatari Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister had a meeting with the Minister of Economic Development in Colombo on the same day. The Qatari Premier along with his delegation met with a group of prominent businessmen and entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka in the presence of the External Affairs Minister and the Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation. During the meetings the Qatari Prime Minister showed keen interest in exploring investment opportunities in Sri Lanka particularly in the areas of tourism including investment in hotels and also in the Colombo Stock Exchange.
The Qatari Premier visit to Sri Lanka is expected to consolidate the longstanding bilateral relations and also open up new avenues of cooperation for mutual benefit between the two countries.
Ministry External Affairs
Colombo
14th December 2011
Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the First Lady of Sri Lanka vists Qatar
Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the First Lady of Sri Lanka visited the State of Qatar on the invitation of the Chairman, Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs to attend the 5th International Shafallah Forum to be held in Doha from 22nd-24th January 2012. This was her first official visit to Qatar.
During this visit, the First Lady also visited the Sri Lankan School (Stafford International), which is the only Sri Lankan school in the State of Qatar.