The Minister of Ports and Shipping of Sri Lanka Mahinda Samarasinghe and the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea Kim Young-Choon signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Ports and Shipping of Sri Lanka and Oceans and Fisheries of Korea on cooperation in the development of Aids to Navigation, on Monday 28 May 2018 in Incheon Metropolitan City in Korea.  The MOU was signed during the visit of Minister Samarasinghe to the Republic of Korea on 28-30 May on the invitation of the Korean Government to participate in the 19^th International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Conference at Songdo ConvensiA in Incheon City.

On the sidelines of the Conference, Minister Samarasinghe also conducted a bilateral meeting with Minister Kim where issues of mutual interest and future collaboration were discussed.  At the meeting, the two Ministers agreed to promote amity and cooperation through mutual exchanges and sharing of technical information related to Aids to Navigation, and to ensure the protection of human life, property and marine environment through the improvement of efficiency of maritime transportation and prevention of marine accidents, while safeguarding the principles of a sustainable planet.  The two Ministers also discussed other areas of mutual interest including follow up on the MOU signed between the two Ministries in April 2015 on Recognition of Seafarers’ Training and Certification.  Minister Samarasinghe also apprised Minister Kim of the competitiveness and growth strategies of Sri Lanka’s ports and related services, and extended an invitation to the latter to visit Sri Lanka at a convenient time in the future to witness firsthand Sri Lanka’s competitive advantages, and to further discuss the development of Marine Aids to Navigation and other areas of cooperation.

Minister Samarainghe was accompanied on the visit by Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, and was supported by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Manisha Gunasekera and staff of the Embassy.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Seoul

29 May 2018