President arrives in Turkey

Turkey: President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Turkey yesterday afternoon on a four-day official visit on the invitation of Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

During his visit aimed at further consolidating Sri Lanka-Turkey friendly relations dating back to over 102 years, President Rajapaksa will hold talks with President Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Speaker Koksal Toptan and several other top level Turkish representatives, said the Presidential Media Unit.

President Rajapaksa's visit will open new vistas for existing mutual friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Turkey which is among the 10 leading trading countries in the world.

Turkey's technological and financial assistance towards solving the housing problem in Sri Lanka, development of mutual trade and industrial relations and promoting of cultural relations and tourism between the two nations will figure prominently at the talks where several important mutual agreements will be signed between the delegates of the two countries.

Turkey being a major buyer of Sri Lanka tea, steps to overcome the present crisis in the tea industry will also be discussed at length during these talks.

The speech made by President Gul at the recent UN General Assembly sessions upholding the bold steps taken by President Rajapaksa and the Sri Lanka Government to counter terrorism amply proved the existing friendly relations between the two countries.

Immediately after the tsunami disaster the Prime Minister of Turkey visited Sri Lanka bringing aid for the tsunami victims and promised continued assistance towards rebuilding the lives of affected people during talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was then Prime Minister.

The President who will proceed to Istanbul on Wednesday, will also meet representatives of industries and Turkish businessmen. President Rajapaksa is accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Ministers Rohitha Bogollagama and Mano Wijayaratne and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga.