The Libyan Secretary of the GPC Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Bogollagama told reporters that the Secretary of the General People's Congress Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi that Libya needed 100,000 workers for future development activities and that Al-Mahmoudi requested Sri Lanka to make use of this opportunity.

Al-Mahmoudi, according to the Lankan official, further suggested for both countries to consider entering into an agreement for the supply of manpower to Libya. Bogollagama agreed to request the Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister of Sri Lanka to travel to Libya to finalize such an agreement.

The sectors of Engineering, Hospitality, Construction, Health and Airline services were highlighted in this regard.
Bogollagama also informed Al-Mahmoudi of the intentions of the Sri Lankan Government to open a consulate in Tripoli to facilitate increased ties between the two countries.

Al-Mahmoudi informed that the Liberalization of the Libyan economy will be fueled by private sector led growth and requested Sri Lanka to be an active partner in this process.

Sri Lankan Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development A.H.M. Fowzie who attended the meeting briefed Al-Mahmoudi on Sri Lanka's efforts in developing the Petroleum sector and requested assistance in the expansion of the country's oil refinery capacity.

Al-Mahmoudi expressed keen interest in securing blocks for oil exploration and suggested that they could enter into a joint venture for this purpose. He offered to provide free technical expertise and advice to Sri Lanka in this field. He will send a team of experts to Sri Lanka shortly to explore possibilities for cooperation.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama briefed Prime Minister Mahmudi on post conflict development efforts taking place in the Eastern Province and requested for Libyan assistance for the highway improvement between Habarana and Trincomalee.

Secretary fo the GPC responded positively to this request. Encouraging both economic and commercial sector development in Sri Lanka he emphasised the need for increased private sector links between the two countries.

Referring to the lack of direct air links both sides agreed to facilitate air connectivity and the Prime Minister offered to grant immediate landing rights for Sri Lankan carriers to Tripoli.

Minister Bogollagama invited Al-Mahmoudi to visit Sri Lanka and stressed the importance of high-level exchanges between the two countries.

Meanwhile, The Governments of Sri Lanka and Libya have agreed to set up a business council in Libya to serve the private sector efforts and to provide consular services for the increasing number of Sri Lankan job seekers. This decision was reached during discussions between visiting Sri Lanka delegation and Libyan authorities.

Talks held between the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and the Libyan Secretary of Trade and Investment Dr. Ali Abdul Aziz Al Asawi Sunday (Aug 12), centred on several areas for enhanced corporation between the two countries.

The major issues discussed were fertilizer, investments, and export of tea on duty free basis to Libyan Markets and Employment opportunities in Libya to capture current economic boom Libya is registering.

Asawi said that a promising atmosphere will be created for Sri Lanka imports in the Libyan market as enjoyed by African countries and this will register a great boom for Sri Lankan Tea exports to Libya. On the area of foreign employment Sri Lanka will take advantage of current construction boom and the hospitality trade development taking place in Libya.