The Philippines and Sri Lanka formalized an agreement Tuesday aimed at boosting cooperation in diplomatic training.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Minister Enrique A. Manalo and Sri Lankan Ambassador Dr. Chanaka Talpahewa signed a memorandum of understanding between the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Philippines and the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) of Sri Lanka. The signing ceremony took place at the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City.

Manalo, who also chairs the FSI board, and Talpahewa both expressed their commitment to strengthening ties in diplomatic training for the mutual benefit of their respective nations. They voiced optimism that the agreement would be actively implemented.

Talpahewa thanked Manalo for signing the MoU, highlighting it as a testament to the importance the Philippines places on the friendly relations between the two countries. He also acknowledged FSI director general Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III for his support in finalizing the agreement, which had been under discussion since 2018.