Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the country on Tuesday morning in a show of strength to the prevailing China-Sri Lanka Relations.
Incidentally, it is after a period of twenty eight years that a head of state from China arrived in Sri Lanka.
President Xi Jinping was warmly welcomed to the country at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday morning.
A number of high-level officials were present at the airport to welcome the Chinese President and his delegation. The visiting Chinese President called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat. Both leaders were engaged in an extensive discussion.
The final phase of the Norochcholai Thermal Power Plant that was constructed with Chinese aid of 1.34 Billion US Dollars was declared open by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The presentation took place at the Presidential Secretariat.
The two leaders joined their delegations to sign more than 20 bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation between the two countries.
On Wednesday, President Rajapaksa and President Xi Jinping will visit the Colombo International Container Terminal to launch the construction of the Colombo Port City.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa says Sri Lanka will be providing 1 million US Dollars in financial assistance to Palestine.
The Presidential Media Unit said the Head of State has been a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause and is the Founder President of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine.
During the Eid Festival Week, President Rajapaksa had expressed concern over the violence in Gaza, tweeting, “It is my hope that the violence in Gaza is halted and peace prevails in the region.” President
Rajapaksa said on his Twitter account. Earlier in July, President Mahinda Rajapaksa also called his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas to inquire about the situation in Gaza.
In January, President Rajapaksa made his first visit to Palestine on his tour of the region that also included Jordan and Israel. During that visit and the Government of Palestine conferred President Rajapaksa with the “Star of Palestine” – the highest award of the State of Palestine.
Sri Lanka recognised Palestine as a state in 1988.
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Hilton has launched a new hotel brand – Curio, a collection of unique four and five-star hotels.
Letters of intent have already been signed for the following properties: SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino; The Sam Houston Hotel in Houston, Texas; Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City, S.D.; The Franklin Hotel in Chapel Hill, N.C.; and a soon to be named hotel development in downtown Portland, Ore.
“Our customers and owners have expressed strong interest in a brand from us that includes hotels that can retain their unique identity but also deliver the many benefits of our system, including our Hilton HHonors guest loyalty program,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton Worldwide. “That desire, combined with the current size of the independent hotel market and demand for differentiated hotel stays around the world, made for the right timing for this launch. Curio is an exciting new brand for us – one of two unique concepts we’ll introduce this year.”
As members of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, Curio hotels will offer guests the benefits of Hilton HHonors.
Jim Holthouser, executive vice president, global brands, Hilton Worldwide, said, “Curio expands our portfolio to a total of eleven exceptional brands and creates additional opportunities to serve our existing customers even better, attract new customers and grow our pipeline. With Curio, we can help owners leverage our scale, scope and expertise while keeping intact each hotel’s individual character.”
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U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, held for nearly five years by the Taliban after being captured in Afghanistan, has been released and is now in U.S. custody after years of on and off negotiations, U.S. officials said on Saturday
As part of Bergdahl's release, the United States is turning over five Taliban detainees at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the custody of Qatar, the officials said.
Bergdahl's freedom followed a renewed round of indirect U.S.-Taliban talks in recent months, with Qatar acting as intermediary, the officials said.
President Barack Obama announced the release, saying he had called Bergdahl's parents to let them know.
U.S. special operations forces took custody of Bergdahl in a non-violent exchange with Taliban members in eastern Afghanistan, the officials said, adding that he was believed to be in good condition. He was now undergoing a medical examination in Afghanistan.
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The President Obama was heading over to the nearby Department of the Interior and decided to break with tradition: He walked over instead.
On the way there, he got to chat with all sorts of people — from roadside vendors to tourists to locals. Needless to say, they weren’t expecting it.
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