TRADE VOLUME OF 100 MLN USD WITH SRI LANKA MUST BE INCREASED, TUZMEN

MERSIN (A.A) - June 20 - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said Thursday, "Turkey's trade volume of 100 million USD with Sri Lanka must be increased."

Tuzmen met a delegation of Sri Lankan businessmen in the southern province of Mersin
on Thursday.

Speaking at the meeting, Tuzmen said that Turkey and Sri Lanka had had good
relations for decades.

"We must carry relations with Sri Lanka to higher levels. We have a trade volume of
100 million USD out of which 44 million USD is Turkish exports to Sri Lanka," Tuzmen
said.

Sri Lankan State Minister in charge of trade Gamini Lokshnon Peiris said that Sri
Lanka shared common characteristics with Turkey.

"In these days when Turkey is getting closer to EU membership, Turkey is not putting
aside its ties with Asian and African nations. Therefore, Turkey is pursuing a
successful policy," Peiris said.

"We do want to carry our relations with Turkey to higher levels. The two societies
are identical to each other. Our businessmen held meetings in Mersin, which were
very important. Sri Lankan businessmen conducted face to face meetings and reached
positive results," Peiris said.

"We thank all those who have invited us to Mersin. I hope that the upcoming term
would provide opportunities that benefit the two sides mutually," Peiris also said.

A total of 19 Sri Lankan businessmen attended Thursday's meeting in Mersin.