Jordanian-Sri Lankan Parliamentary Friendship Association formed

AMMAN — Jordan and Sri Lanka have established a Jordanian-Sri Lankan Parliamentary Friendship Association to boost cooperation, according to Sri Lankan Ambassador Abdul Latiff Lafeer.

The association will increase the exchange of delegate and official visits. In addition, it will pave the way for the exchange of expertise among the various parliamentary committees in the two countries, the ambassador told The Jordan Times in a recent interview.

“This is a further step towards boosting cooperation between the two countries, which enjoy solid ties at various levels,” said Lafeer.

Turning to cooperation in the higher education sector, the ambassador said the University of Jordan and Sri Lanka’s Peradeniya University, which is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest universities, will sign a memorandum of understanding soon.

“Unfortunately, we do not have Sri Lankan students at present in Jordan, although Jordan is a known educational hub in the region and we hope the deal will boost cooperation in this regard,” he noted, adding that the memorandum of understanding will be the first of its kind between the two universities.

Under the memo, the two universities will the exchange faculty and researchers for purposes of teaching, delivering lectures, conducting research and exchanging expertise.

It will facilitate the exchange of students subject to terms to be outlined in a separate student exchange agreement and includes conducting collaborative projects.

The two sides will cooperate in organising symposia, seminars and conferences and exchange academic information and materials, said the ambassador.

Discussions are also under way to form a Jordanian-Sri Lankan businesspeople friendship association to boost ties in trade and commerce, he said.

Jordan and Sri Lanka established diplomatic ties in 1965.