Cooperation deal between Galle and Melbourne cities

D. C. de Silva, Kahawa special correspondent

KAHAWA: Signing of Cooperation Agreement between the Southern Province of Sri Lanka and Melbourne City of Australia, took place on Saturday at Galle Governor's Secretariat.

This agreement had been first signed by the Melbourne City Mayor, John So, on behalf of Melbourne, and by K. Balapatabendi on behalf of Sri Lanka on February 1, in Melbourne.

Kingsley T. Wickramaratne the Southern Provincial Governor, and Mr. Rodney Arambewela, the Sri Lankan Consul for Melbourne, signed the agreement again on Saturday 18, February 2006 in Sri Lanka.

Governor Wickramaratne said that, "Melbourne is one of the multi-cultural cities in the world, and is proud and honoured, that many people of Sri Lankan origin have made Melbourne their home."

"Those people wish to demonstrate their compassion and friendship to the people of Southern Province, Sri Lanka, through the establishment of this cooperative agreement, which will provide the framework for cooperation in the fields of education, training, health, sports and other pursuits to be mutually agreed by both parties", the Governor said.

"International playground by the UK in Galle is funded by Melbourne" he pointed out. "This agreement is similar to the cooperative agreement now existing between Galle city and Velson City of Holland", he said.

Sri Lankan Consul in Melbourne Rodney Arambewela said the cost of the project was 90,000 Australian dollars.

An Australian housing project is also under way in Paraliya for the tsunami affected," he said. Samarasinghe the Secretary to the SPC governor, welcomed the gathering.