On January 16, 2019 Ambassador Jayatilleka paid a courtesy call on his Malaysian counterpart, H.E. Datuk Mat Dris Haji Yaacob.
Ambassador of Malaysia underlined very close historically established relations with Sri Lanka. Ambassador Jayatilleka recollected his colleague, the Malaysian PR at the UN in Geneva, who was an expert on Asian issues and a dynamic Ambassador at the Human Rights Council.

The Heads of Mission shared their views on the Asian situation and the new dynamics, development and period of history in the world, and Indo-Pacific issues.
The Ambassadors had a long discussion on the experience and achievements of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad the famous, outspoken and knowledgeable political figure in Asia, and his early initiative for an East Asian Economic Community to stabilize economic situation in the Asian region. Ambassador Jayatilleka showed a picture of himself about to interview Dr. Mahathir for TV when he visited Sri Lanka, and underscored the importance of his return to work and called him a leader of the 2nd wave of the Asian renaissance.
The Ambassadors underscored the need for a larger Asian architecture to let the structural relations grow between South Asia and East Asia. That would be the task for the next generation, they agreed. Ambassador Jayatilleka also pointed out that Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia who have relations with South Asia are perhaps the countries to build the bridge between the SAARC and ASEAN.