Two leading policy and research think-tanks of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on knowledge exchange and research cooperation between the two countries.
.In an ongoing effort to further deepen people-to-people ties between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, Afghan Ambassador to Colombo M. Ashraf Haidari has promoted the formation of lasting and fruitful relations between the civil society organizations of the two countries.
In this light, Ambassador Haidari facilitated, hosted and witnessed the virtual signing ceremony of the historic MOU between the Afghan Institute of Strategic Studies (AISS) and the Regional Center for Strategic Studies (RCSS) recently.

The Afghan Institute of Strategic Studies (AISS) was represented by its Deputy Director Ms. Samira Sameem and the Regional Center for Strategic Studies (RCSS) based in Colombo was represented by its Executive Director Professor Gamini Keerawella.
Before the signing of the MOU between the representatives of AISS and RCSS, Ambassador Haidari delivered brief remarks, which elaborate on the importance of the MOU, advancing knowledge exchange and research cooperation on issues of shared interest and concern in regional and global contexts with implications for Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
“The signing of the MOU follows my hard efforts over the few past months to further deepen ties between the civil societies of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as two democracies with common democratic values and many shared and converging interests in the social, political, defense and strategic, economic, and cultural spheres,” the Ambassador noted in his remarks.
Under the MOU, our two eminent think-tanks will:
- Carry out research and written analysis;
- Foster dialogue among scholars, experts, and policymakers;
- Disseminate research and analysis, including mutual re-publication in electronic and hard copy;
- Organize workshop, symposia, seminars, and similar events;
- Mutually share knowledge and expertise.
The Ambassador expressed confidence that the two institutes will promote regional economic cooperation through greater trade and commercial ties between the two countries, as well as across the region as the shared peace, security, and stability very much depend on sustainable development in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and the rest of the resourceful region.
The Afghan Ambassador also noted the recent signing of a Cooperation MOU between the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), which he facilitated and witnessed its virtual signing ceremony.
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