President Rajapaksa an exemplary leader - Philippines President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa held discussions with Philippines President Gloria Arroya in Tripoli, on September 1.

The discussions focused on measures that should be adopted at State level to combat terrorism internationally and especially to overcome the menace of terrorism within the South- East Asian South Asian region.

Both leaders stressed the need of a combined effort to eliminate terrorism as terrorism hindered the development at large in this part of the region.

Philippines President Gloria Arroya highly commended the stern, victorious and tangible measures taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government in guiding the Security Forces towards a triumphant victory over terrorism.

President Arroya also said "Sri Lankan President has put an end to the traditionally accepted presumption that 'terrorism cannot be defeated' becoming an exemplary leader of a nation to the world".

Both leaders agreed on expanding vistas in the business sector in Sri Lanka for Philippines businessmen and the discussions focused on exploring possibilities to design direct air services between the two nations.