South Africa to share reconciliation and nation building experience with SL

A South African delegation led by the Deputy Minister of International Relation and Cooperation Ms. Nomaindia Mfeketo is visiting Sri Lanka this week and the team will enlighten the Sri Lankan officials on their experience in reconciliation and nation building. Deputy Minister Mfeketo and her delegation met with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader, Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage Rauff Hakeem on Wednesday (25th) and discussed matters on reconciliation efforts and Nation Building process backed by the South African Government. According to the president Secretariat the South Africa has been asked to share with Sri Lanka its experience in terms of reconciliation and nation-building. South African High Commissioner in Colombo, G.Q.M. Doidge also accompanied the high level delegation. During the five-day visit Deputy Minister Mfeketo will meet her counterpart and other important role-players in Sri Lanka. South Africa has been asked to share with Sri Lanka its experience in terms of reconciliation and nation-building. This is the first high-level visit from South Africa to Sri Lanka since the new administration of President Maithripala Sirisena took over following the Presidential elections held in Sri Lanka on 08 January 2015. It is also the first follow up visit by South African government delegation, since the visit to Sri Lanka by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as the special envoy of South African President Jacob Zuma in July 2014. Meanwhile, the Fifth Partnership Forum between South Africa and Sri Lanka was also taking place in Colombo on 24 and 25 February 2015 with the representation of a number of South African Government Departments. The two sides are expected to sign two agreements on tourism cooperation and cooperation between the South African and Sri Lankan Zoological Gardens. During yesterday's session of the forum, the two sides shared views on the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORA) in which the two countries are partners, with a view to support initiatives for enhancing cooperation on six priority areas; Maritime Safety and Security; Trade and Investment Facilitation; Fisheries Management; Disaster Risk Management; Academic and Science & Technology Cooperation; and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges.