Warm welcome for Ugandan leader

Chaminda PERERA

Sri Lanka and Uganda signed five agreements yesterday boosting cooperation in the technological, tourism, economic and political arenas after Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni held bilateral talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Presdient Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

The Ugandan President who is on a four day official visit to Sri Lanka was given a ceremonial welcome on his arrival at the venue. Mouseveni with first lady Janet Kataha Musaveni arrived at the Presidential Secretariat in a colurful motorcade flanked by mounted escorts .

They were accorded a guard of honour which included a 21 gun salute. Mouseveni is the first Ugandan leader to visit Sri Lanka in the last thirty five years.

Uganda is among the African countries that stood by Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva and Pre CHOGM Foreign Ministers meeting in Perth last year.

The two countries signed agreements for the establishment of Sri Lanka Uganda Friendship Vocational and Technical Centre in Uganda and cooperation in the economic, commercial and tourism fields. Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation Dr. Sarath Amunugama and First Lady of Uganda and Minister for Karamoja Janet Kataha Museveni signed the agreements witnessed by the leaders of the countries.

The two countries also entered into agreements on bilateral political consultations and cooperation in the field of culture. Culture and Arts Minister T. B. Ekanayake and First Lady of Uganda and Minister for Karamoja Janet Kataha Museveni were the signatories on behalf of the two countries.