RI-Sri Lanka to sign cooperation agreements

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lakshman Kadirgamar, will sign a set of cooperation agreements expected to advance bilateral ties between the two countries.

Agreements on economic and technical cooperation, the promotion and protection of investments, and a memorandum of understanding concerning cooperation in the fields of broadcasting and information will be signed.

Kadirgamar begins his three-day visit this morning. He is accompanied by a business delegation.

Apart from today's talks with Alatas, meetings with Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto and State Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie are also scheduled.

Kadirgamar will pay a courtesy call on President Soeharto and Vice-President Try Sutrisno.

Sri Lanka and Indonesia have been strong allies since the 1950s. Both are founders of the Non-Aligned Movement.(mds)