HH the Emir Arrives in Sri Lanka

Colombo, January 15 (QNA) - HH the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani this afternoon arrived in Colombo on a two-day official visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. HH the Emir and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport by HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka. A number of Sri Lankan ministers and senior officials along with HE Saeed Bin Abdulla Al Mansouri, Qatar's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, HE Manjusri Jayantha Palipane, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Qatar besides a number of Their Excellencies the members of the diplomatic corps the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries accredited to Sri Lanka were also among the well-wishers to welcome HH the Emir. HH the Emir was accorded an official reception ceremony. HH the Emir is accompanied during the visit by a high-level official delegation. HH the Emir gave a speech upon arrival in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, in which he said : " Upon my arrival in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, I am pleased to extend on behalf of the people and government of Qatar and on my behalf greetings to Sri Lanka, wishing it continuous progress and prosperity. It gives me pleasure to meet with HE President Mahinda Rajapaksa upon his kind invitation to visit the freindly Republic of Sri Lanka and have the chance to discuss various issues of mutual concern, means of promoting friendship and enhancing bilateral cooperation between our two countries in various fields for the interests and welfare of our peoples. I am sure that this visit will contribute to deepen the prospects for cooperation between our two countries, that we both aspire for ." (QNA)