Dutch support to boost Lankan economy
View(s):The Netherlands plans to provide Sri Lanka with technical and specialist knowledge, visiting Netherlands Vice Minister of Foreign Trade Simon Smits told Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa during a recent meeting in Colombo.
According to a media release issued by the Ministry, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed berween the two countries to assist Sri Lanka in the construction of 467 rural bridges under the programme to build 1,210 rural bridges island-wide.
Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the visiting Minister
Mr. Smits was on a four-day visit here accompanied by a business delegation. Minister Rajapaksa also discussed with him the possibility of establishing a centre for growing tissues of ornamental flowers, developing livestock resources, expanding the dairy industry with high milk yielding breeds of cows and strengthening environmental conservation. The discussions also focused on improving trade and economic ties and investments.
Other participants in the discussions included the Netherlands Ambassador in Sri Lanka Louis W.M. Piet, Senior Policy Officer of Netherlands foreign Ministry Nicolette Koopman, Netherlands Embassy Senior Policy Advisor (Political) Mahendra Ratnaweera, and Economic Development Ministry Secretary Nihal Jayatilaka.