Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera met the Speaker of the Ethiopian Parliament, Abadula Gemeda, yesterday, and explained the reasons behind the Sri Lankan government's decision to set up an embassy in Ethiopia. 

The Sri Lankan embassy in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa will be declared open tomorrow by the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister and his Ethiopian counterpart Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu. 

 Samaraweera said Africa’s future lies in Ethiopia, it being the headquarters of the African Union (AU) and the ‘Diplomatic Capital’ of Africa.

 He also briefed the Speaker on the   current socio-political and economic developments in Sri Lanka and on the national unity government’s vision for a strong, stable, progressive, inclusive and peace loving nation.

The Speaker Abadula Gemeda and Sri Lanka's FM Mangala Samaraweera discussed avenues for future cooperation between the two parliaments and pledged to work closely in strengthening longstanding friendly bilateral relations.

Foreign Minister Samaraweera will also call on the Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome, followed by a meeting with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister Hon. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, today (01), in Addis Ababa.