The meeting took place recently at the headquarters of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce with the participation of Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye S. Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, President of Ankara Chamber of Commerce Gürsel Baran, and Deputy Secretary General of Ankara Chamber of Industry Sancar Sefer Süer with a few other officials. Ankara Chamber of Commerce has over 160,000 members and 68 professional committees covering different sectors.

At the meeting, the Ambassador conveyed her condolences to the victims of the recent earthquake and stated that the government of Sri Lanka and people all are standing with Türkiye in solidarity. She briefed on the immediate actions and measures taken by the Embassy and contributions made by Sri Lankan state, Embassy in Ankara and Honorary Consuls of Sri Lanka in Türkiye. President of Ankara Chamber of Commerce Baran appreciated the role of the Embassy of Sri Lanka to lead an initiative to raise funds among the diplomatic corps in Ankara, with the blessings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara, which was handed over to the Türkiye Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD). He also thanked the Ambassador and Sri Lanka for the contribution and support extended.

Ambassador briefed on the approval of the Extended Fund Facility spread out for a period of 48 months amounting to close to 3 billion USD by the IMF Executive Board on 20^th March 2023 which is considered as a major step in addressing the financial crisis in Sri Lanka. She further briefed on the elements which will be focused on under the IMF.

The President of Ankara Chamber of Commerce recalled the online meeting with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce a few years ago and the signing of an MoU. He added that Turkey is ready to expedite collaborations noting that there is much potential for economic cooperation. Ambassador welcomed the suggestion and invited a delegation from the Chamber to visit Sri Lanka in the 3^rd quarter of 2023 noting that the two countries are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2023.

She briefed on potential sectors for collaboration for trade, investment and tourism and benefits that Turkish companies could have through various trade arrangements that Sri Lanka has. The Ambassador emphasized on the raw materials present in Sri Lanka for manufacturing industries and the legal instruments that are expected to be completed in the near future related to investment promotion and protection, avoidance of double taxation and customs matters that would enhance effective economic cooperation. Opportunities in the renewable energy, hospitality industry were highlighted in addition to using a range of high valued and high quality minerals that can be value added such as graphite, ilmenite, rutile and kaolin. She further added that Sri Lanka had been a gem producing and trading center for over two millennia and most famous for its blue sapphires. The investment opportunities available in the Port City also were discussed. She further noted that Sri Lanka is also known for centuries for its spices like black pepper and Ceylon Cinnamon, which is sweeter and has a very low coumarin level making it unique and healthy among other varieties of cinnamon in the market and it already has a GI certificate.

Further, Ambassador Dissanayake underscored the existing high taxes on value added teas, likely to protect the local producers of tea in Türkiye, but severely impacting export of Sri Lanka’s high value added luxury teas to Türkiye. Extensive discussions were held on potential areas for economic cooperation to increase trade volume, investment and tourism in a mutually beneficial manner. The meeting was concluded by agreeing to hold further discussions on specific sectors for collaborations and organize a delegation to Sri Lanka in October 2023 when Türkiye would be celebrating its 100^th Anniversary of founding of the Republic in partnership with the Turkish embassy in Colombo.