(NewsRadio); President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed his desire to further strengthen bilateral ties with Sri Lanka.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stated that Sri Lanka’s long standing bilateral relations with Türkiye date back to around the Ninth Century during the Ottoman Empire.
The President of Türkiye has noted that first formal relations began with the Ottoman Empire appointing an Honorary Consul to Sri Lanka in 1864 with residence in Galle.
President Erdoğan expressed these views when the newly appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye, Saranya Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, presented credentials at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
During the meeting President Erdoğan, has extended his greetings to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
President Erdoğan has also recalled his visit to Sri Lanka in 2005 as the then Prime Minister of Türkiye and noted the humanitarian assistance extended by the Government of Türkiye to Sri Lanka as well as the donation of medical supply to Sri Lanka in August 2022.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Ankara said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his pleasure on the continuous support for the operation of Turkish Airlines in Sri Lanka stating that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Turkish Airlines was one of the few airlines that continued its services between Istanbul and Colombo.
Ambassador Dissanayake meanwhile had thanked President Erdoğan for his remarks and stated that as a senior career diplomat, and being mandated by the President of Sri Lanka, she remains firmly committed to further strengthen the longstanding and cordial bilateral relations between the two countries.
She also thanked the President and the Government of Türkiye for supporting Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, Geneva.
Ambassador Dissanayake also briefed President Erdoğan on Sri Lanka’s current economic and political situation and assured that to her utmost ability, she remains committed to promote historical relations for the mutual benefit of both countries.
