President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on an official visit to Vatican City, met with His Holiness Pope Francis on Friday.
The Presidential Media Unit said the President had formally presented an invitation to the Pope, to visit Sri Lanka.
The delegation led by the President arrived at Vatican City at about 10:30 on Friday morning local time where they were greeted ceremonially, and the President accorded a guard of honour.
The Presidential Media Division says that President Rajapaksa met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace.
The President had briefed Pope Francis on Sri Lanka’s progress in areas including the resettlement of displaced persons, de-mining, the return of LTTE child soldiers to their parents, and infrastructure development.
The Presidential Media Divisions says that the President had pointed out to the Pope that although certain groups were spreading misconceptions, there exists peace and reconciliation among all religious groups.
The Pope had thanked the President for briefing him on the current situation in the country and had noted that he is looking forward with enthusiasm to his visit to Sri Lanka.
The statement issued by the Presidential Media Division also noted that Pope Francis and President Rajapaksa, exchanged ideas on the Pope’s visit to Sri Lanka.
Tagged with
formal invitation,
Pope Francis,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
Vatican City
Sri Lanka’s largest book exhibition, the Colombo International Book Fair 2014 commenced on Wednesday under the auspices of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The fair is being organised for the sixteenth year by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association.
The Colombo International Book Fair 2014 commenced at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall and will continue until September 16 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa also attended an event to present scholarships to a group of students under the Daru Dhiriya Fund that is established from the money received from the sale of tickets at the venue.
The head of state also visited several stalls at the Colombo International Book Fair 2014.
Tagged with
BMICH,
book Exhibition,
Book Fair 2014,
Colombo International Book Fair 2014,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
Sri lanka News
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Maldives Dunya Maumoon stated that the visit by the President of Sri Lanka is an important milestone for the bilateral relations between the two nations.
She made this comment after meeting with the Sri Lankan President in the Kurumba Islands in Maldives on Thursday.
The Minister added that the Sri Lankan President is the first head of state to visit the country after the new president of Maldives was appointed, adding that the visit strengthens bilateral relations between the two countries.
Presient Mahinda Rajapaksa had appreciated the warm welcome and the hospitality provided throughout the tour.
The President of Sri Lanka and the Foreign Affairs Minister of Maldives concurred that the SAARC should be strengthened for the betterment of the region and that it can be done by treating all countries equally.
Minister Dunya Maumoon stated that Maldives will continue to support Sri Lanka on the international platform.
Tagged with
Dunya Maumoon,
Foreign Affairs Minister of Maldives,
Mahinda Rajapaksa,
Maldives,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
Sri lanka News
UNP Parliamentarian Rosy Senanaye says that the government has failed in building relations with key countries that Sri Lanka engages with.
She expressed these views in an exclusive interview with News1st’s Bureau Chief in Washington Gadaafi Ismail.
UNP Parliamentarian, Rosy Senanayake expressed following views,
In a post war situation I think we need to basically, re-portray, re-brand Sri Lanka. I strongly believe that the government has failed in building relations with key countries that we deal with in the last couple of years. When the government fails to have good relations with the people – we need to have good relations; I strongly believe that our foreign relations are not adequate enough for us to basically portray us in the right light and because we have been arrogant, we have failed to do what is right after the war.
We have won the war. I give all the credit to the President and the government for winning the war. But after the war… When we talk about the LLRC Report, when we talk about the recommendations, when we talk about reconciliation. I think there has been a lapse there has been a lethargicness – I think they have been lethargic in implementing the recommendations, there has been a lack of interest. “
Tagged with
government,
Mahinda Rajapaksa,
News,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
Rosy Senanaye,
sri lanka,
Sri lanka News,
UNP,
War
.gif){kind=small}
.gif){kind=small}
