Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Sumith Dassanayake, said that Sri Lanka is already participating in Hawassa Industrial Park in apparel textile industries.

He noted that Sri Lanka is keen to build strong relations with many nations, and Ethiopia comes in the forefront.  At present, over 800 Sri Lankans are working in Ethiopia. Issabella and Hydramani Sri Lankan companies have established their operations in Hawassa Industrial Park in textile sector.

Currently, Sri Lanka’s textile companies have created job opportunities for 4,000 Ethiopians.

"This cordial relation of Sri Lanka and Ethiopia has now become more advanced in political and economic cooperations symbiotically,"Dassanayake said whilst speaking exclusively to Walta TV.

According to him, Sri Lanka has comprehensive experiences in textile, agro-processing, tea production and tourism industries; in this regard, he has planned to arrange a visit to Ethiopian delegates to Sri Lanaka so that they can draw lessons and bear fruits from these sectors as Ethiopia has untapped potential.

Ambassador Sumith has called up on Africans and others to visit and enjoy in Sri Lanka and in turn use the possible and favorable opportunities that Ethiopia has offered to investors.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Addis Ababa held its first ever Mobile Consular Service for about 400 Sri Lankan community members living and working in Hawassa to create conducive, successful atmosphere in Ethiopia and make life easier during their time in Ethiopia.

The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won is a huge boost to contribute to consolidate peace initiatives in the African continent, according to Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake. The prize is for Ethiopians, Africans and the entire peace devotees of the world.

The award is a recognition to the Prime Minister’s commitment to maintain peace and sustain prosperity in the region. It is also a prize of trust and hope to the outstanding role he played in ending decades of Ethio-Eritrea border conflict and efforts to realize multifaceted regional cooperation, he added.

Sri Lanka is to conduct presidential election on 16^th November 2019; meanwhile, Ethiopia is set to conduct national election in 2020, this is a coincidence that the two countries are at a great ambition to realize and experience democracy. He wished a successful election for both countries.

He is also thankful for Ethiopians for their hospitality at large.

Walta has learnt that diplomatic relation between Ethiopia and Sri Lanka was commenced in 1972. The Embassy was officially established in February, 2017 in Addis Ababa.