Sri Lanka on Monday opened the embassy in Uganda to boost trade relations between the two countries.

Speaking at a ceremony attended by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaska, Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kuteesa said the new mission will promote trade and investment in various sectors.

Gamini Lakshman Peiris, Sri Lanka's foreign minister, said the focus of the two countries should be on trade, commerce and tourism.

"We have a political relationship that is ideal. Our countries share many things in common. They have both emerged from the shadows of colonialism. We must work together to achieve our objectives," he said, according to a State House statement issued here.

On the same occasion, the two countries launched the rehabilitation of Masulita Vocational Training Center in the central Ugandan district of Wakiso. Sri Lanka offered to rehabilitate the center, whose current intake is 200 students and once refurbished will have a capacity of 400 students. Endi