Representative of Sri Lanka to the State of Palestine, Farook Mohamed Fawzer, paid a courtesy call on Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, H.E. Dr. Hussein Hamayel, at the Governorate headquarters on 26 August 2026. The meeting was attended by Mayor of Jericho, Major General Salem Ghrouf, and Chairman of the Jericho and Jordan Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Taysir Al Humaidi.
The meeting focused on strengthening economic, trade, investment, agriculture, tourism and institutional cooperation between Sri Lanka and Jericho, with particular emphasis on translating longstanding friendship into practical and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Representative Fawzer outlined Sri Lanka’s trade and investment potential, highlighting its strategic location at the crossroads of major Indian Ocean and international maritime routes, which provides strong connectivity to regional and global markets. He also highlighted the opportunities offered by Sri Lanka’s Free Trade Zones (FTZs), including facilities and incentives available to international investors. He noted that Sri Lanka’s maritime connectivity, established tourism sector and access to the wider Indian Ocean region position the country as a potential gateway to South Asian and international markets for Palestinian businesses and investors.
The discussions explored opportunities for business-to-business partnerships, including potential linkages between Jericho’s renowned Medjool dates and Sri Lankan exports such as Ceylon Tea, spices and coconut-based products. Representative Fawzer invited Jericho’s business community to participate in Sri Lanka Expo 2027 and explore trade, investment and commercial partnerships.
Cooperation in agriculture was also discussed, with emphasis on technical exchanges, training and knowledge-sharing in sustainable agriculture, modern farming practices and post-harvest management.
The meeting further explored tourism and cultural cooperation, particularly promoting Jericho’s unique historical heritage among Sri Lankan visitors and pilgrims. The proposal to explore city-to-city cooperation between Jericho and Kandy was welcomed as a potential platform for exchanges in tourism, culture, education and institutional development.
Jericho – A City of Exceptional Historical Significance
The Palestinian side highlighted Jericho’s remarkable historical and geographical significance. With human habitation dating back more than 10,000 years, Jericho is widely regarded as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated approximately 258 metres below sea level, it is also renowned as the world’s lowest city. Its exceptional heritage and strategic location make Jericho an important destination for tourism, culture and economic activity.
Governor Hamayel highlighted the importance of Jericho and the Jordan Valley as centres of agriculture, industry, tourism and economic activity, particularly their internationally renowned Medjool date production and growing industrial potential. He also highlighted the Jericho Agro-Industrial Park and the production of medical oxygen for export to European markets as examples of the region’s expanding economic and industrial capacity. He expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka’s longstanding solidarity with Palestine, including its humanitarian assistance and continued support for Palestinian rights at international forums.
Mayor Ghrouf highlighted Jericho’s rich historical heritage and strategic importance as a gateway to Palestine through the Jordan Valley, while noting the longstanding affinity between the peoples of Sri Lanka and Palestine and the popularity of Ceylon Tea in Palestine. The meeting also discussed strengthening cooperation in tourism and cultural heritage, including opportunities to promote Jericho’s historic and religious sites among Sri Lankan tourists and pilgrims. Particular attention was given to Tell es-Sultan, Hisham’s Palace and the Mount of Temptation, important landmarks of Jericho’s rich historical, cultural and religious heritage.
Chairman of the Jericho and Jordan Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Taysir Al Humaidi, expressed the Chamber’s strong interest in encouraging its members to participate in Sri Lanka Expo 2027, with a view to establishing business-to-business (B2B) trade and investment linkages and exploring new opportunities for commercial cooperation.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthening the longstanding bonds between Sri Lanka, Jericho and Palestine through practical cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, education, culture and people-to-people relations.
Representative Fawzer expressed appreciation to Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, H.E. Dr. Hussein Hamayel, Mayor of Jericho, Major General Salem Ghrouf, and Chairman of the Jericho and Jordan Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Taysir Al Humaidi, for their warm hospitality and constructive engagement. The Representative Office of Sri Lanka looks forward to working closely with the Governorate, Municipality and Chamber of Commerce and Industry to advance mutually beneficial cooperation.
Representative Office of Sri Lanka
Ramallah, State of Palestine
30 August 2026