President promotes sound ties with int’l community

Several new bilateral ties set up:

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his delegation which attended the 22nd CHOGM in Perth returned to the island yesterday morning, after successfully completing their Australian tour. The President and his delegation to the CHOGM made use of the opportunity to create a good understanding about Sri Lanka among the international community and set up several new bilateral relations, said a communique issued by the President’s Media Division.

The communique said President Mahinda Rajapaksa held bilateral talks with several Heads of State on the sidelines of the CHOGM. Among them were the Prime Ministers of Australia, Bangladesh and Singapore, Vice President of India and Prime Ministers of Pakistan, Malaysia and Mauritius.

Special attention was drawn towards development and programmes for poverty alleviation and the higher education sector during talks held with the Australian Prime Minister. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheik Hasina promised all assistance to the President in conducting the CHOGM in Sri Lanka in 2013.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Lung drew the President’s attention towards the need to forge closer links between Singapore and Sri Lnaka in International Trade and Investment.

The Prime Minister of Mauritius pointed out that Sri Lnaka and Mauritius could gain major benefits through co-operation in the Fisheries Industry.

The President also met heads of state of Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana and exchanged views with them regarding the progress and economic development achieved by Sri Lanka in recent times. President Rajapaksa also met the Sri Lankan Community in Australia at the Winthrop Hall of the University of Western Australia who offered him a rousing welcome.

At the concluding ceremony of the CHOGM, President Rajapaksa invited all heads of state present to attend the next CHOGM to be held in Sri Lanka in 2013.

The President’s delegation included first Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne, External Affairs Deputy Minister Neomal Perera, Parliamentarian Sajin Vaas Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge and Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.