Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment of Sri Lanka Arun Hemachandra, currently on an official visit to Romania, met with the President of the Romania-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group, Marius-Constantin Budăi, and several members of the Group on 21 October 2026 at the Parliament of Romania in Bucharest.
Highlighting the pivotal role of parliamentary diplomacy, Deputy Minister Hemachandra underscored that parliamentary friendship groups serve as essential frameworks for deepening bilateral relations, strengthening political dialogue, and fostering mutual understanding. He noted that regular exchanges between parliamentarians facilitate the sharing of legislative best practices, governance insights, and perspectives on issues of common interest. He further affirmed that Sri Lanka attaches high importance to parliamentary governance and looks forward to the Friendship Group’s continued role in expanding bilateral ties.
In reaffirmation of Sri Lanka's commitment to bilateral engagement, Deputy Minister Hemachandra extended an invitation to the Romania - Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group to undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka in the coming year. On employment matters, he emphasized the Government of Sri Lanka's strong policy focus on implementing regulated labour migration and secure remittance channels.
The Romanian delegation expressed deep appreciation for the contribution of Sri Lankan migrant workers to the Romanian economy, emphasizing that their presence extends beyond significant economic support to enriching Romania’s social fabric through vibrant cultural exchange and strong human connections. The Romanian side also candidly addressed ongoing challenges, noting instances where Romania has been utilized by a minor fraction of migrants merely as a transit point to reach other European destinations.
Acknowledging these dynamics, both sides agreed on the necessity to broaden the bilateral partnership beyond labour migration. They emphasized the need for active collaboration to harness substantial untapped potential in economic cooperation, specifically highlighting trade diversification and increasing Romanian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka as key priorities.
Furthermore, Deputy Minister Hemachandra solicited Romania’s valuable support for Sri Lanka’s upcoming reapplication process for the European Union GSP+ preference scheme.