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Bhutanese Prime Minister praises President:
Lanka heading for massive development
Chaminda Perera
The Bhutanese Government yesterday reiterated that terrorism will
never rise in Sri Lanka under the vibrant and dynamic leadership of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister and SAARC Chairman Lyonchhen Jigmi
Y Thinley said he was happy to return to a peaceful Sri Lanka after
several decades of unrest and President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be
commended for bringing peace to the country.
He was speaking at a press conference at the Colombo Hilton Hotel
yesterday.
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Visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister and SAARC Chairman
Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley addressing the press yesterday
Bhutanese Education Minister Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel and
Bhutanese Envoy in Sri Lanka Dasho Bap Kesang were also
present. Picture by Saman Mendis |
The Bhutanese Prime Minister added that Sri Lanka is heading for
massive economic and social development with the end of 30 years of
terrorism.
Premier Thinley who was a Guest of Honour at the swearing in ceremony
of President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka lost many
opportunities due to terrorism during the past two decades. The visiting
Premier added that he called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and issues
pertaining to both countries and the SAARC region were discussed.
Premier Thinley stressed that there would be no ground for terrorism
in Sri Lanka again as President Rajapaksa is fully capable in averting
such a situation.
Thinley congratulated the President on behalf of the people of Bhutan
and the SAARC region.
He said that he first visited Sri Lanka in 1982 and the country was
still peaceful.
“The people of Sri Lanka are a very peace loving lot and the two
countries enjoy many things in common.”
He was of the opinion that the cultural and religious similarities
between the two countries can be utilized for the promotion of tourism.
He said the two countries consult each other at international forums
and sound relations still persist between the two Buddhist nations.
The Bhutanese Premier was accompanied by Bhutanese Education Minister
Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel and Bhutanese Envoy in Sri Lanka Dasho Bap
Kesang.
He also met Bhutanese medical students studying in Sri Lankan
universities.
Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley became the Chairperson of SAARC at the
16th SAARC Summit held in April 2010. |
