South Africa, welcoming the release of the LLRC report, had commended Sri Lanka earlier for setting up an authoritative mechanism to further investigate allegations related to human rights abuses and had encouraged Sri Lanka to take decisive actions upon the findings .

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane has visited Sri Lanka together with former Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, Roy Padayachie in October 2009. Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ebrahim Ebrahim has visited Sri Lanka in November 2011.

During his visit, Minister Peiris is also expected to meet the Deputy Minister Ebrahim.

South Africa and Sri Lanka have already held three Partnership Forum Meetings between the two countries in 2005, 2009 and in 2010 and South Africa is to host the next meeting of the Partnership Forum in 2012.

The South African International Relations and Cooperation Department said the two ministers will discuss bilateral economic relations during today's meeting.

The bilateral trade between the two countries has seen a steady increase in growth in both exports and imports. During last year, South Africa's exports to Sri Lanka have amounted to US$ 35.5 million and imports from Sri Lanka have amounted to US$ 29.7 million, according to the Department.

The South African private sector is also becoming involved in Sri Lanka's expanding economy. South African gaming and hotels group Sun International Ltd recently finalized a deal to invest US$ 800 million to build a hotel complex in Sri Lanka's northwestern coastal town of Katana.

"In recognizing the territorial sovereignty and integrity of Sri Lanka, South Africa believes in the need for a peaceful and sustainable political solution, which will be best achieved through broad consultation and inclusive dialogue amongst all the peoples of Sri Lanka," the International Relations and Cooperation Department said in its statement.

South Africa said that it is ready to assist and share with the government and people of Sri Lanka its experiences in terms of reconciliation and nation-building.