The two Ministers also considered ways and means to achieve concrete results in light of the recent elevation of the bilateral engagement through highest political level interactions including the recent State Visit of President Maithripala Sirisena.

During the discussions, both ministers agreed to expedite the negotiations for the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), as being a step towards signing an eventual Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the future.

State Minister Senanayake also conveyed Sri Lanka's desire to intensify its cooperation with ASEAN including as a future Sectoral Dialogue Partner.

The State Minister is now in the Philippines to represent Sri Lanka at the Grand Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN and the 24th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).