Ashraf Siddiqui
Doha
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Qatar HE Mohamed Mafaz Mohideen has expressed his sincere appreciation for the unwavering commitment of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Qatari government to humanitarian causes, particularly Qatar’s pivotal role in spearheading efforts aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The ambassador was addressing at the 76th Sri Lanka’s National Day celebrations reception attended by Minister of Labour HE Dr Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Director of Department of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro, members of diplomatic community guests and members of Sri Lankan community.
He extended Sri Lanka’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and emphasised the need for a functional Palestine government and underscored that a two-state solution is unattainable. Highlighting the robust bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Qatar over the past decades, the Sri Lankan envoy acknowledged the flourishing ties across various sectors.
He credited high-level exchanges and visits for setting the stage for a strong bilateral framework marked by several agreements and MoUs. Drawing parallels between Qatar’s ambitious development plans and its vision 2023 for a diversified economy with Sri Lanka’s aspirations, Ambassador Mohideen identified significant potential to further enhance bilateral cooperation. Areas such as renewable energy, tourism, healthcare, food security, among others, were cited as promising avenues for collaboration.
Talking on the significance of his national day celebration, the envoy described is as a moment that serves as a poignant reminder of Sri Lanka’s historical struggles for freedom and sovereignty, tracing a remarkable evolution from its colonial past to a vibrant present and a promising future. He said that in light of the challenges faced by Sri Lanka in 2023 following a socio-economic crisis in the previous year, the government is committed to comprehensive reforms across multiple sectors.
These reforms aim to foster a competitive economy, environmentally sustainable practices and the advancement of the digital economy, he added.
The envoy shared optimistic economic indicators, citing the World Bank’s projection of 1.7 percent growth in 2024 after a contraction of 3.8 percent in 2023. Noteworthy achievements include the restructuring of debt, fiscal stabilisation and a commendable reduction in inflation from 77 percent in 2022 to four percent presently.
He added that economic reforms implemented in 2023 contributed to a state income of approximately 11 percent of the GDP and foreign reserves increased significantly from $2.1 billion in 2022 to $4.5 billion.
Acknowledging Sri Lanka’s tumultuous history with terrorism, the ambassador emphasised the government’s commitment to healing past wounds and fostering unity among the diverse communities. He said the country remains engaged with international communities, including the UN, to address human rights issues, justice, reparation and measures for non-recurrence.
As Sri Lanka navigates its economic landscape, the ambassador reassured ongoing efforts to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future. A group of Sri Lankan school children displayed cultural dances on the occasion and a short video was shown on Sri Lanka’s development and tourism.