Visit of Senator Bob Carr, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia to Sri Lanka From 14th -17th December 2012

January 3, 2013

Pre Visit Press release

Senator Bob Carr, Foreign Minister of Australia will be undertaking an official visit to Sri Lanka from 14^th to 17^th December 2012.

In further strengthening the bilateral relations, both countries have decided to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) on People Smuggling and Transnational Crime.The Joint Working Group (JWG) will particularly address the current issues of illegal migration, people smuggling and law enforcement. The JWG will be inaugurated by the two Foreign Ministers on 17^thDecember and will be led by the Defense Secretary Gotabaya   Rajapaksa &Martin Bowles, Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of the Government of Australia.

The visiting Foreign Minister will call on H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and have discussions with Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development & Gotabaya  Rajapaksa, Secretary of Defense and Urban Development. He is also scheduled to travel to the Southern Province during his stay in Sri Lanka and observe several Australian aided development projects.

Ministry of External Affairs

Colombo

14^th December 2012