H.E. Dato’ Seri Dr. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, received Hon. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka, for a courtesy call at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya on 10 July 2025. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum.
The Malaysian dignitaries present including YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI); YBhg. Dato’ Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani, Deputy Secretary General (Bilateral Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs; YBhg. Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, Political Secretary to the Prime Minister; Mr. Adlan Mohd Shaffieq, Director of the International Affairs Division, Prime Minister’s Office; and Mr. Khairul Nazran Abdul Rahman, Undersecretary, South Asia and Central Asia Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hon. Minister Herath was accompanied by Mrs. Chamari Rodrigo, Director General of the Southeast Asia and Central Asia Division of the MInistry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and Mr. M.I. Mohamed Rizvi, Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Kuala Lumpur.
The meeting was held in a warm and constructive spirit. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, education, and ARF priorities. A key highlight was the proposal for visa-free travel for Sri Lankan nationals and requested to allocate 10,000 job opportunities for Sri Lankan workers. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Human Resources of Malaysia and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia to explore possibilities to resolve the subject matters urgently.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and working together towards regional peace and prosperity.