President to Lankan expats:
Time to think of one’s obligations and country
President Mahinda Rajapaksa Monday met Sri Lankan expatriate
workers in Qatar. Ministers Prof G. L. Peiris, A. H. M. Fowzie,
Rishad Badiudeen, Rauff Hakeem, Faizer Mustapha,
Parliamentarians A. H. M. Azwer, Sajin Vass Gunawardena,
Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Sri Lankan
ambassador in Qatar Jayantha Palipana were present.
Picture by Sudath Silva |
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said his desire is to bequeath to future
generations of Sri Lankans a country where they can live in peace, unity
and dignity.
‘The time has now come for everyone to think of one’s obligation,
duty and service towards the country as regards its development effort’.
The President expressed these sentiments when he met a group of Sri
Lankan expatriate workers in Qatar during his state visit to Qatar, on
Monday afternoon. President Rajapaksa said the total number of Sri
Lankans employed in Qatar is nearly 150,000.
Their capabilities and dedication to work has been highly acclaimed
by the government of Qatar.
State authorities of Qatar led by the Emir of Qatar during their
discussions with him said that they received a high quality and
disciplined service from the Sri Lankans and they highly appreciated it.
The dedicated service rendered by Sri Lankan expatriate workers had
helped to forge closer links between the two countries. A communique
issued by the President’s Media Division said the President met and
personally interacted with all the Sri Lankan workers present and
inquired after their well-being.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his delegation later visited ‘Qatar
Diar’ company, a major construction company in Qatar on an inspection
tour. The company management explained to the President and his
delegation the massive development work handled by the company in Qatar
in the past and the future projects planned by it. They said Qatar would
be hosting the World Cup Football Tournament in 2022 and they had
formulated a 10 year plan to make preparations for it.
The President also visited the Pearl Qatar company too on an
inspection tour. |