Sri Lanka and Portugal have agreed to establish a joint committee to study the repatriation of ancient artefacts taken from the island during the Portuguese colonial period.

The agreement was reached during a bilateral discussion between Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and visiting Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo.

Rangel noted that the proposal to return items of historical value was acceptable and confirmed that a joint committee would conduct a preliminary study. Both ministers also discussed activating existing cultural agreements to facilitate the process.

Additionally, the ministers addressed difficulties faced by Sri Lankans in obtaining Portuguese visas, which currently require travel to New Delhi. Vijitha Herath proposed a more accessible mechanism, which Rangel pledged to review. (Newswire)

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Portugal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, arrived in Sri Lanka this morning (24 Feb) for a two-day official visit.

He was accompanied by a four-member delegation comprising senior officials from Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Upon his arrival at the Katunayake Airport this morning, he was welcomed by Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku.

Paulo Rangel, thereafter,  met with his Sri Lankan Counterpart Vijitha Herath for a discussion. (Newswire)

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