Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is to make an official visit to New Zealand from Oct. 1 to 3, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said Friday.

"This will be the first time a Sri Lankan Prime Minister has undertaken a bilateral visit to New Zealand, and is an important step in the growing relationship between our two countries," Key said in a statement.

"Under Prime Minister Wickremesinghe's leadership, Sri Lanka has entered a new phase in its post-civil war development. New Zealand is keen to support the important steps the country is making towards reconciliation and rebuilding through increased political and economic contact."

Key, who visited Sri Lanka in February, said he was struck by the range of exciting opportunities for New Zealand, and an increasing number of New Zealand businesses were recognizing the potential.

Wickremesinghe would be accompanied by four Sri Lankan government ministers, and a business and media delegation.

(Xinhua)