President arrives in Kazakhstan on three-day state visit

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana yesterday for a three-day state visit. President Rajapaksa is visiting Kazakhstan on an invitation extended by his Kazakh counterpart President Nursultan Nazarbayev. In the evening, the President, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and the rest of the delegation were expected to attend a cultural show organized to mark 20 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, states a release from the Presidents Media Division.

President Rajapaksa will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart President Nursultan Nazarbayev today. The President will also hold talks with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

President Rajapaksa will meet the Speaker of Kazhakastan and several senior Ministers during his stay.

Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan are set to sign several agreements to further expand bilateral cooperation in the fields of economic, social and cultural relationss.

President Rajapaksa is also slated to participate at a Sri Lanka- Kazakhastan business leaders meeting today, which has been organized to coincide with the his visit.

External Affairs Minister, Prof G L Peiris, Uva Province Chief Minister Sashindra Rajapaksa, Sajin de Vass Gunawardena MP and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga are accompanying the President.