President Rajapaksa attends inauguration of new Maldivian President
President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a brief official visit to the Maldives on 10-11 November, 2008 to attend the inaugural ceremony of the new Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and other officials of the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the swearing-in ceremony President Mohamed Nasheed, in his Address to the Nation extended a warm welcome to the President of Sri Lanka and thanked him for making a special effort to attend the ceremony.
Soon after the ceremony, the Sri Lankan President was the first foreign dignitary to pay a courtesy call on the new President accompanied by Foreign Minister Bogollagama, the Acting High Commissioner, Mr. H.M.T. Wijewickrama and the delegation.
President Rajapaksa extended his warm felicitations to President Nasheed as the new leader of the Maldives and welcomed the first ever multi-party election and the new reforms as a new beginning in the political history of the Maldives. He conveyed his best wishes to President Nasheed for a successful tenure of office.
Both sides agreed to continue to work together and to strengthen and deepen the multi-faceted links which exist between the two countries. It was noted that there are over 10,000 Sri Lankans in the Maldives and the Maldivian President welcomed their presence. He stated that the private sector investments, especially in the tourism sector is encouraged. In this context, the possibility of working together to promote joint destination packages which should benefit both countries was discussed.
Reference was made to the library building in the Maldives which was donated by Sri Lanka when the Foreign Minister visited the Maldives in November 2007. President Nasheed is keen to further expand the collection of books in the Library. In the field of Information Technology the Sri Lanka President spoke of the proposal to set up Tele Centres (Nanasala).
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama referred to the activities of SAARC and stated that Sri Lanka as SAARC Chair looks forward to the support and cooperation of the Maldives to promote the collective efforts of SAARC member states for the benefit and prosperity of the South Asian Region. It was observed that Maldives would be hosting the SAARC Summit in 2009.
President Nasheed spoke of the close people-to-people contacts which have been established due to many Maldivians who have studied in Sri Lanka, and, those who still continue to have their education in Sri Lanka which has resulted in a close affinity between the two countries.
President Nasheed accepted the invitation extended by President Rajapaksa to pay a visit to Sri Lanka which would take place before the end of this year.
The President and the Foreign Minister also called on the former President Gayoom. President Rajapaksa conveyed his best wishes to the former President and said that he would be remembered as a statesman who made a significant contribution to the Maldives and to the South Asian region.
Sri Lanka High Commission Male
Courtesy: Ministry of Defence
Foreign Minister underscores Sri Lanka’s friendship with India
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama highlighted the strong bonds of friendship and trust that the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has forged with the political leadership of India, as a manifestation of the longstanding historical ties between India and Sri Lanka.Minister Bogollagama elaborating further, stated that the successful outcome of Mr. Rajapaksa’s visit has been most reassuring for the peoples of India and Sri Lanka, and all those friends and well wishers who desire lasting peace in Sri Lanka. He tabled the two official communiqués issued jointly by India and Sri Lanka on 26th October in New Delhi, at the conclusion of Mr. Rajapaksa’s visit, namely the (a) India-Sri Lanka Joint Press Release and (b) India–Sri Lanka Joint Statement on Fishing Arrangements.
Implicitly criticizing interested parties who were attempting to impute an ulterior motive to the Indian Government for the offer of 800 tonnes of relief material for civilians caught up in the conflict in the North, the Minister emphasized that India has come forward with this humanitarian assistance, as a goodwill gesture, which reflects the friendship and spirit of good neighbourlines between the two countries. He cautioned the general public not to be misguided by the mischievous construction given to this noble gesture of goodwill by India.
The Minister recalled the financial grants that Sri Lanka had given Myanmar and Nepal in recent times, when the two countries had experienced natural disasters. He also referred to the despatch of relief material, which included tents, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment worth US$ 1.5 million for the survivors of the massive earthquake disaster which struck the Sichuan Province in China on 12th May, which had been greatly appreciated by the Government and the people of China.
Similarly, Sri Lanka had also made a cash donation of US$ 50,000/- as humanitarian relief for victims of the severe floods which inundated large parts of the Indian State of Bihar in September this year. On the occasion of handing over the cheque for this amount by the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Resident Commissioner of Bihar on 12th September in New Delhi, the High Commissioner had referred to the letter that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had sent Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in which the President had recalled that the State of Bihar occupied a special place in the hearts of Sri Lankan Buddhists, since tens of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims visit the State annually to pay homage to the sacred land, where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.
Minister Bogollagama strongly refuted media speculation of any secret deals with India. He hailed the excellent understanding that the Government has with the Indian Government in its efforts to defeat terrorism and restore democracy to the North.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
India has fullest confidence in the steps taken by SL Govt, says FM Bogollagama
Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama said that Sri Lanka is fighting against terrorism and reiterated that there is no ethnic conflict in the country.Referring to the statement Made by the Minister of External Affairs in India, Pranab Mukherjee at the Lok Sabha yesterday, Minister Bogollagama noted that Indian Minister has expressed confidence on the steps taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure security of the civilians in North.
Minister Bogollagama said that the international community has commended the positive and humanitarian steps taken by the Government to address the grievances of the Tamil civilians in the North.
He said that External Affairs Minister has noted the importance of ensuring the safety of Indian fishermen and he has said that it is important for Indian fishermen to respect the International Maritime Boundary.
Minister Bogollagama stressed that the Sri Lanka Navy will not conduct any sort of attack on the Indian fishermen. He said that a report pertaining to this issue has been already sent to the Government of India.
“Our two governments have agreed to work towards concluding practical arrangements to prevent such incidents,” Minister noted.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
Indian External Affairs Minister invited to SL
With the view of clarifying the position of the Government with regard to the humanitarian mission in the North, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited the External Affairs Minister of India, Pranab Mukherjee to Sri Lanka.
Referring to the decision of several parliamentarians of the Tamil Nadu Government to forward their letters of resignation to their Chief Minister, Karunanidhi, Minister Bogollagama said “non of them have resigned from their portfolios yet”.
Minister Bogollagama said that Government is maintaining a close relationship with India and shares a similar stand when it comes to the issue of terrorism. He added that the Government has taken measures to brief the international community of its position.
Foreign Minister noted that it is the goal of the Government to bring democracy to all parts of the country and pointed out that it has become a reality in the East after the liberation of the province from the clutches of terrorism.
He affirmed that in near future the people of Mullaittivu and Wanni will be a part of the democratic process in the country whilst terrorism is military defeated.
He also stressed that the Government still holds the same position when it comes to the national issue despite the opinions of certain parties.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
Indian High Commissioner meets his counterpart in Sri Lanka
High commissioner Alok Prasad called on Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday (17) at the foreign ministry. The discussion centered on current issues pertaining to Indo-Lanka bilateral relations in the context of development in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Concerns being expressed in this regard in India were conveyed to Minister Bogollagama by the High Commissioner.
Foreign Minister Bogollagama stated that Sri Lanka is fully conscious of the concerns being expressed and understood the context in which these matters are being raised. The Minister assured that in the spirit of existing excellent bilateral relations. Sri Lanka intends to further discuss these issues bilateral consultation process in this regard could continue at appropriate levels.
Courtesy : Lankapuvath
