First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic has met today, in Colombo, with his host, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Tilak Marapana.

Expressing their pleasure at the first meeting on Ministerial level held in the last 20 years, the two Ministers noted that there were decades-long and traditionally friendly relations between Serbia and Sri Lanka.

They agreed that the cooperation needed to be promoted and enriched by intensifying the bilateral political dialogue, including the visits on top and high levels as well as through concrete forms of cooperation in other areas, for which there was large scope and mutual readiness.

Both Ministers also discussed visas and possibilities for reciprocal abolition of visa requirements. They agreed that political consultations between the two sides be held in Belgrade.

The Head of Serbian diplomacy thanked for the position of Sri Lanka on non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of "Kosovo", expecting that Sri Lanka will maintain this position in the future.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister reiterated the position, as also stated by Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, that the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is seen as separatism they faced as well and that it is therefore absolutely unacceptable for them.