Lanka’s relationship with Palestine unique - President

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: Further consolidating the existing bilateral links between Sri Lanka and the State of Palestine, the two countries yesterday inked a historic Agreement on Technical Co-operation and Practical Training, at the Presidential Secretariat.

This was one of the main highlights of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ State visit to Sri Lanka.

Following the signing of the agreement by the two Foreign Ministers of Sri Lanka and the State of Palestine, Rohitha Bogollagama and Riad Malki, President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted that Sri Lanka, although a non-Muslim country, had for the last 38 years, consistently supported the Palestinian people in their long struggle and cause in the quest of human rights.

“Our long-standing wish for the State of Palestine and its friendly and peace-loving people is peace. We also wish to extend our fullest co-operation and assistance to the Palestinian people in the broad spheres of capacity building, human resources, science and technology, tourism, sports, education, health care among others,” President Rajapaksa said. “When your late leader Yasser Arafat came to Sri Lanka I was the Minister in Attendance. I recall that opportunity with happiness.

As a former President of the Committee for Solidarity with Palestine for 28 long years, I must say that we have had very cordial bilateral relations with the Arab World, especially with Palestine. Our relations with Palestine have been unique,” the President remarked.

“It is no secret throughout the whole world that we had consistently supported the inalienable rights of the rights of the Palestinian people to an independent Sovereign State, based on the UN Security Council Resolutions.

“Sri Lanka has chaired the UN Committee on Human Rights of Palestinians for 38 years, continuously. It is a unique record, especially Sri Lanka being a non-Muslim country.”

Addressing the gathering, President of the State of Palestine Abbas in response, opined that for 38 long years, Sri Lanka and the State of Palestine have had friendly ties and enjoyed a solid bilateral relationship, which would be strengthened further by this visit to Sri Lanka.

“I know that this great Sri Lankan leader and the Sri Lankan people believe and cherish peace. They love the Palestinian people. They believe in the importance of maintaining peace with Israel,” President Abbas said.

He thanked President Rajapaksa for establishing diplomatic links with the State of Palestine and for his offer in cooperating in several spheres for the betterment and the development of the Palestinian people.

He also said that the Sri Lankan Envoy in Palestine has built a close and friendly rapport with the Palestinians, for which they were very grateful. “I invite President Rajapaksa to tour Palestine, when the time permits,” President Abbas added.