Kohona appointed as Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Jamaica

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Palitha Kohona has been appointed as Sri Lanka's new High Commissioner to Jamaica in addition to his post at the UN.

Dr. Kohona recently presented credentials to the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, Governor General of Jamaica Sir Patrick Linton Allen.


During his brief visit to Jamaica, Dr Kohona also called on the Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh, and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton. He also met the officials of the Jamaican Chamber of Commerce, the umbrella group, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, the management of Grace Kennedy Ltd and the Tourist Board.
He was hosted to a reception dinner by the Honorary Consul at the Consulate of Sri Lanka Mrs. Marjorie Henriques.
Sri Lanka and Jamaica, both active members of the NAM and the G77, collaborate regularly in multilateral fora on common issues such as climate change and the realization of the Millennium Development Goals.
During the discussions with Jamaican officials, significant interest was expressed in possible Sri Lankan participation in the emerging medical tourism sector in Jamaica, the alternative medicine sector, particularly in the possibility of Sri Lankan operators developing Ayurvedic spas.
Sri Lankan industrialists establishing manufacturing facilities to exploit Jamaica's duty free access to the US market, especially in the garments and apparel sector was also a subject of discussion.
The manner in which Jamaica's highly successful tourism industry has managed the negative impact of the country's law and order situation and regular hurricanes was illuminating, Dr. Kohona has observed.
According to the Sri Lankan diplomat, Dr Tufton, the Minister of Agriculture, who is to launch a programme for reviving rice farming, was particularly keen to seek Sri Lankan expertise. Grace Kennedy Ltd., already an investor in Sri Lanka was interested in expanding their operations further. The Foreign Minister was very supportive of Sri Lanka's application to join the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).