Sri Lanka decides to establish diplomatic ties with Rwanda

Sri Lanka has decided to establish diplomatic ties with Rwanda, the Sri Lankan government said on Friday. Sri Lankan government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said that the decision was taken by the Sri Lankan cabinet when it met this week. He said that the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris had put forward the proposal that Sri Lanka and Rwanda should establish diplomatic ties. "Sri Lanka has shared strong ties with many African Nations in the past and it continues to enjoy close ties with these nations," the Sri Lankan minister said. Sri Lanka currently has diplomatic ties with 32 of the 54 African countries, Rambukwella told reporters in Colombo. He also said that Sri Lanka hopes to establish formal diplomatic relations with Africa's newest nation, the Republic of South Sudan. South Sudan became an independent state in July this year and later became a United Nations member state and a member of the African Union.