Vietnamese President arrives on state visit

Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday evening for a three-day state visit on the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This is the first time a Vietnamese President is visiting Sri Lanka.

President Sang arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport in a special flight from Mumbai with First Lady Mai Thi Hanh and a high level delegation.

The visiting President was received by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa upon their arrival at the BIA and was conducted to a special dais in procession by traditional dancers and drummers.

The Vietnamese President was accorded a guard of honour by Sri Lanka Navy with 21 gun salute at the Airport. The two Presidents introduced their delegations to each other at the Airport.

President Sang is scheduled to hold talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa today and several bilateral agreements of mutual interest are to be signed today.

The visiting President will place floral tributes at the War Memorial at Kotte today. He is also scheduled to inaugurate the Sri Lanka - Vietnam Business Forum and open the Vietnam Embassy in Colombo today.

Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Social Services Minister Felix Perera, Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando, Chief Minister of Western Province Prasanna Ranatunga, Deputy Ministers Priyankara Jayaratne, Sarath Gunarathna, Neomal Perera, Gampaha District Parliamentarian Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Galle District Parliamentarian Sajin Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath were also present.