President begins two day State visit to Seychelles

Concluding a very successful three day state visit to Tanzania on Saturday(29), President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Seychelles commencing a two-day state visit to the island state.

President James Michel warmly welcomed the President at the airport, states a release from the Presidential Spokesman and International Media Unit.

The release adds: ‘Two children welcomed the President offering a bouquet of flowers. Later, National anthems of both nations were played, and a guard of honour was accorded to the President. President stopped to speak with some Sri Lankan families residing in Seychelles.

President Rajapaksa together with President Michel headed to the State House to begin bilateral discussions.

The Vice President of Tanzania, Dr. Mohamed Gharib Bilal accompanied President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the airport as he concluded his state visit to Tanzania, heading to Seychelles.

In Tanzania, President Rajapaksa held bilateral discussions with President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, while stressing the need to develop stronger economic ties between the two nations. President stated his willingness to offer scholarships to Tanzanian students in order to develop closer ties with people of both nations. Tanzanian President requested the assistance of Sri Lanka to develop Tea, Coconut and Clove cultivations.

At the conclusion of the bilateral talks, three agreements were signed. They were exempting of visa for diplomatic and state officials, corporation on intelligence, defense and cultural corporation.

President Rajapaksa visited the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Dar-es-Salaam and donated a generator prior to departing from Tanzania. The temple is unique that the Bo Tree is a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva, Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Sajin De Vaas Gunawardene, Members Parliament Lohan Ratwatte and Lakshman Wasantha Perera, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal are accompanying the President”.