COLOMBO, FEBRUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Ambassador to India Ashot Kocharian was on a working visit to Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka, on February 4-7. Ambassador Kocharian attended the parade on the occasion of Independence Day of Sri Lanka, as well as the official reception hosted by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa. He had meetings with the country's Secretary of Foreign Affairs Mr Palita Kohona and Director General of the Department of Europe, America and CIS Countries Mr A. Vijeyratna. The opporunities and prospects of bilateral cooperation were discussed. The ambassador underlined that the Armenian government attaches great importance to the extension and deepening of cooperation with friendly countries of the Asian region, particularly with Sri Lanka. The necessity for formation of the legal field and organization of mutual visits by top-level and businessmen delegations was indicated. The ambassador restated the invitation of the Armenian Jewelers Association that invites Sri Lanka jewelers to participate in the international jewelry exhibition to be held in Yerevan in October. He expressed a positive opinion about the cooperation in international organizations. After the briefing for heads of fiplomatic missions at the foreign ministry, the Armenian ambassador had a short talk with the newly appointed Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama. He congratulated the foreign minister on his appointment and expressed a hope that bilateral relations with Sri Lanka will develop in an efficient and mutually beneficial way, particularly, in trade, economic, jewelry making, cultural and educational spheres. The foreign minister in his turn expressed the willingness of Sri Lanka's government to further develop cooperation with Armenia. The Armenian ambassador also met with local businessmen. Some details of mutual visits of Armenian and Sri Lanka businessmen were discussed.

---