OREANDA-NEWS. June 20, 2008. For the first time in the history of relations between Ukraine and Sri Lanka political consultations between the two foreign ministries took place in Kyiv. The Ukrainian delegation was headed Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Horin, and Sri Lanka's delegation was headed by First Deputy Foreign Minister Palitha Kohona.

A wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation was discussed, in particular, in political, trade-economic and consular spheres, as well as urgent international problems.

The parties agreed on the necessity of intensification of bipartite contacts, in particular, an issue was considered on organization of the official visit of Sri Lanka President to Ukraine.

Special attention was paid to development of an agreement-legal basis, in particular, a need to complete preparation to signing a number of bilateral agreements in the trade-economic, investment and consular spheres.

In the context of development of cooperation within the frames of international organizations, the parties expressed their satisfaction with rendering mutual support at the May elections to the UN Human Rights Council and confirmed readiness to continue such a policy.

The Sri Lanka party also raised an issue of cooperation within the frames of international organizations and forums in the sphere of fighting terrorism.

The Ukrainian party expressed hope that Sri Lanka will join a group of countries which recognized the Holodomor 1932-1933 an act of genocide of the Ukrainian people, and that it will support an initiative of our state with regard to adopting a resolution on this issue at the session of the UN Human Rights Council, as reported with reference to the Foreign Ministry press service.