The UAE-India-Sri Lanka tripartite plan to develop Trincomalee as a regional energy hub came up when the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador called on the Deputy Speaker at Parliament on September 23.
Ambassador Khaled Nasser Al Ameri paid a courtesy call on Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, with Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera also present, Parliament said in a statement. The talks covered the ongoing tripartite initiative on Trincomalee alongside bilateral relations more broadly, the Daily Mirror reported.
Labour, tourism and air links
The Deputy Speaker pointed to the economic contribution of the large Sri Lankan workforce employed in the UAE and welcomed the rising number of UAE tourists travelling to Sri Lanka, calling for deeper cooperation in the tourism sector.
Ambassador Al Ameri said Sri Lankan workers in the UAE are highly valued for being skilled, peaceful and respectful, and stressed the importance of maintaining strong air connectivity between the two countries. The discussions also took in education and higher education, trade, and scope for cooperation on security.
A dormant friendship association
Dr. Salih said the Sri Lanka–UAE Parliamentary Friendship Association is expected to be revived in the Tenth Parliament, with the aim of strengthening parliamentary relations and widening cooperation across sectors.
Context: Trincomalee’s long-running energy file
Trincomalee’s development as an energy hub is one of the most durable items on Sri Lanka’s diplomatic agenda and sits at the intersection of Indian, Emirati and Sri Lankan interests. It was on the table at head-of-state level in April, when a proposed India–Sri Lanka oil pipeline and the Trincomalee hub were discussed at President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s meeting with Indian Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan.
A courtesy call on a Deputy Speaker is a parliamentary rather than an executive channel, and neither account describes any decision taken or commitment made.
Not reported
Neither Parliament nor the Daily Mirror gives the current status of the tripartite initiative, names the projects it covers, or reports any timeline, investment figure or next meeting. Neither says when the Parliamentary Friendship Association lapsed or when it is expected to be reconstituted, and neither gives figures for the Sri Lankan workforce in the UAE or for UAE arrivals.
