A MoU on Cooperation between Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) of Sri Lanka and Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Philippines, the premier diplomatic training institutes in the two countries, was signed at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines in Manila, Philippines recently.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Minister and Chairperson of the FSI Board Enrique A. Manalo and Ambassador for Sri Lanka Dr. Chanaka Talpahewa signed the MoU on behalf of the respective institutions.
Both Secretary (Minister) Manalo and Ambassador Talpahewa, in their remarks, reaffirmed commitment to elevate and strengthen cooperation in the field of diplomatic training for the mutual benefit of Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Both expressed their confidence that this MoU will be actively implemented by the two parties.
Ambassador Talpahewa thanked the Foreign Minister for making the time to sign the MoU which he described as a testimonial to the importance attached by the Philippines to the warm and friendly relations that exist between the two countries. He also thanked the FSI Director General Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III for the support given for early finalisation of the MoU which has been under discussion since 2018.
Those witnessing the signing ceremony included FSI Director General Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III, DFA Undersecretary (Deputy Minister) for Administration Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, DFA Chief Coordinator- Office of the Secretary Bernadette Fernandez, Human Resources Management Office (HRMO) Executive Director Greg Marie C. Mariño, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary and Executive Director of Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC) Rona Beth G. Goce, and DFA officials from the Office of the Secretary and FSI; and officials of the Embassy.
