First Sri Lankan Head of State to visit Vietnam :

Warm welcome for President in Vietnam

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived on a three day official visit to Vietnam yesterday on the invitation of the Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet a historic step in the relations between Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The Presidential entourage reached Noibai International Airport yesterday, a press release from the President’s Media Division said.

This is the first time a Sri Lankan head of government is making a visit to that country. President Rajapaksa was welcomed on his arrival at the airport by the Chairman of the President’s Office Vietnam Nguyen Van Chien and was accorded a guard of honour by the Vietnam Army.

The President was accompanied by Ministers Rohitha Bogollagama, Prof G.L.Peiris, Governor Alavi Mowlana, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Presidential Coordinator Sajin Vaas Gunawardena and former ambassador Dayan Jayatilake the release said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Vietnamese Nguyen Minh Triet this evening at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi where he was warmly welcomed and accorded a guard of honour by the military of Vietnam.

President Rajapaksa expressed his sincere sentiments and highly appreciated the warm hospitality accorded to him by the Government of Vietnam and its people.