Nepal and Sri Lanka on Thursday discussed strengthening bilateral ties as well regional forums like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec). These discussions were held at the first meeting of the Nepal-Sri Lanka joint commission meeting that concluded in Kathmandu on Thursday.

The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Minister NP Saud and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry, who arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

An MoU on Cooperation in the Fields of Science, Technology and Innovation was signed between the two countries, after the talks in the presence of Foreign Ministers.

“Besides other bilateral issues and matters, we discussed strengthening Saarc and Bimstec,” foreign minister Saud said after the meeting.

Both Nepal and Sri Lanka are members of Saarc and Bimstec, and Nepal has been chairing Saarc since the last summit meeting in 2014. Although Bimstec is functioning effectively, Saarc has struggled to gain momentum due to lack of political will among member states and longstanding rivalry between India and Pakistan, preventing the organisation from holding its bi-annual summit.

“During the meeting, we reviewed our bilateral ties and matters related to trade, investment, connectivity, tourism, culture, education, defense, and immigration, among others,” said Saud.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, enhancing trade and investment, increasing air connectivity, exchange programmes in culture, tourism and education sectors, strengthening regional cooperation including Saarc and Bimstec processes and cooperation in multilateral forums are some of the major agenda items discussed during the meeting.

Stating that the operation of the Kathmandu-Colombo air connection is encouraging, the two sides also discussed the possibility of establishing an air link between Colombo and Lumbini. The two ministers also discussed the potential transfer of three Nepali nationals imprisoned in Sri Lanka, said the ministry.

Also, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the fields of science, technology and innovation is set to be signed, the ministry added.

“We also discussed cooperating in the United Nations and other multilateral forums,” said Saud, adding, “Matters related to strengthening Saarc and Bimstec and finding a common position among member states were also discussed.”

The Nepali delegation comprised Foreign Minister Saud, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Nepali Ambassador to Sri Lanka Basudev Mishra, and senior officials from ministries of commerce, home and foreign affairs. Likewise, the Sri Lankan delegation included Ambassador Sudarshana Pathirana, and senior foreign ministry officials.

While addressing the media after the meeting, Sri Lankan foreign minister Sabry stated that both sides discussed potential cooperation in education, health, employment, and tourism.

He emphasised the need to focus on various programmes within Saarc and Bimstec.

He said: "Nepal and Sri Lanka are very close friends and we have been friends for a long time. We have been cooperating with each other on many issues. Now we are advancing our cooperation to further expand our relationship. We will cooperate in many fields including education, health, employment, and tourism."

The Sri Lankan foreign minister also called on the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Sabry also said the Sri Lankan government would take a special initiative to encourage Sri Lankan citizens to visit Nepal. “We hope Nepal will also make a similar kind of appeal to its citizens. We had a very cordial meeting today and we held important talks to expand our bilateral ties,” said the Sri Lankan foreign minister.