President returns after successful tour

President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to the country yesterday morning after successfully concluding his visit to New York, USA where he attended the 66th sessions of the UN General Assembly. He was accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and the other members of the delegation.

A press release by the President’s Media Division said President Rajapaksa met a wide range of world leaders and other dignitaries during his stay in New York on the sidelines of the Assembly sessions and held wide ranging bi-lateral discussions with them on a range of issues.

On September 20 President Rajapaksa attended the Clinton Global initiative at which he was warmly welcomed by former US President Bill Clinton.

The same evening he met Kyrghystan President Mrs Roza Otunbayeva, Slovenian President Dr Danilo Turk and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and held bilateral talks with them. He also met US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O’ Blake and held discussions with him.

On September 21 President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Nepalese Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and held bilateral talks with them.

On September 22 President Rajapaksa met three other world leaders and held bi lateral talks with them. They are Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa, Uganda’s Vice President Edward Ssekandi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

During these discussions President Rajapaksa briefed them on Sri Lanka’s achievements in the economic sector and the on-going mega development schemes which have opened up vast opportunities for foreign direct investment. He also dwelt on the vast progress made in the demining programme in the North and East as well as the success of the re-settlement programme of displaced persons.

These world leaders congratulated President Rajapaksa on the achievements made by Sri Lanka during a short span following the total eradication of terrorism. The President was also able to strike new mutual friendships with a host of new states during his stay.

President Rajapaksa after addressing the 66th UN General Assembly sessions on September 23 met Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and discussed a range of important issues pertaining to the region. President Rajapaksa also met the Maldivian Vice President Mohamed Wahid Hassan and Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma and held vital discussions.

On September 24 President Rajapaksa had a breakfast meeting with US congress members Caroline B. Maloney and Robert Aderholf.

President Rajapaksa who met UN Secretary General Ban-ki-Moon the same afternoon expressed Sri Lanka’s displeasure about the Secretary General’s decision to send the controversial Darusman reports to Human Rights Commissioner Navaneetham Pillai without informing the Sri Lanka mission in the UN or the Sri Lanka government.

This action which was contrary to accepted diplomatic traditions and norms would create a negative influence on the confidence placed in the UN and its mechanisms, President Rajapaksa pointed out.

The two parties which agreed that there had been a communication lapse on the part of the UNSG team decided to work towards better progress through needed reconciliation.

The other members of the President’s delegation included External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Parliamentarian Sajin Vaas Gunawardene, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Presidents Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath.