Addressing the press in Ljubljana, both foreign ministers stressed that Slovenia-Sri Lanka relations were amicable and without open issues, and both countries would like to further intensify ties.

In order to do this, the countries would have to sign several bilateral agreements, above all an agreement to avoid double taxation and another on economic cooperation, Erjavec told a joint press conference after meeting Peiris.

The ministers also discussed the protection of human rights, which is one of the priorities of Slovenia's foreign policy. Erjavec said that Sri Lanka would support Slovenia's bid to become a member of the UN Human Rights Council in 2016-2018.

Peiris said that his country was also very interested in cooperation between both countries' parliaments and governments, announcing that the Sri Lankan parliament was set to establish a group of friendship with Slovenia.

The Sri Lankan minister is accompanied by 15 representatives of big companies, who took part in a business conference organised by the Foreign Ministry and Slovenia's Honorary Consul in Sri Lanka Sanatho Ukwatte where they met some 50 Slovenian businessmen.

Talks at the conference focused above all on tourism (some 6,000 Slovenians visit Sri Lanka annually), vine making and food, as well as information and communication technology, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

Later today, the Sri Lankan foreign minister is scheduled to talk at the Slovenian Association for International Relations, which brings together foreign relations experts, diplomats, journalists, business representatives and university teachers.

Peiris will also meet Constitutional Court President Ernest Petrič and the head of Slovenia's International Centre for the Promotion of Enterprises, Janez Podobnik.

Peiris is the highest Sri Lankan official to visit Slovenia since the countries established diplomatic relations in 1996, while Sri Lanka was visited by Slovenia's late President Janez Drnovšek in 2006.

Sri Lanka recognised Slovenia in 1992, and its ambassador based in Austria's Vienna has been responsible for Slovenia since 2001.