The President returns home after a successful tour of the Middle East securing many benefits for Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa commencing his tour of the Middle east left the Katunayake International Airport on the 04th of this month.On arrival in Jordan on the first leg of his tour, the President, First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa and his entourage were accorded a warm welcome. The President met the King of Jordan King Abdullah II Ibn al Hussein on 05th afternoon at the Royal Hashemite Court in Amman. An agreement was also signed for the promotion of culture between the two countries. The President invited the King of Jordan to visit Sri Lanka.
Ending a two-day visit to Jordan, the President and his entourage left for Palestine on the 6th of this month. A notable feature in the visit was the honouring of President with the “Star of Palestine”, the highest Award of the State of Palestine. President Rajapaksa met the Palestinian President Dr. Mahmoud Abbas at the Presidential Palace in Ramallah and held bilateral discussions. After these bilateral discussions, agreements were inked to establish the Sri Lanka Palestine Joint Commission and the Mahinda Rajapaksa Vocational Training Centre. The President also paid floral tributes to the Yasser Arafat Mausoleum. The President also held talks with members of the Sri Lanka Palestine Solidarity Organization as well as the Palestinian business community.
The President and the First Lady thereafter visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and attended the Christmas eve mass. The Head of the Eastern Orthodox Church Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos the III held a banquet in honour of President Rajapaksa and the First Lady.
Ending the official visit to the State of Palestine, the President, First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa and the entourage reached Jerusalem in Israel on Wednesday the 08th. The President met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had bilateral discussions. Thereafter they visited the religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. The President and his delegation also attended a religious service at the Church of the Nativity in Jerusalem.
Talks between President Rajapaksa and his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres were held at the President’s Office in Jerusalem. The Israeli President commended President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s leadership, calling the achievements during President Rajapaksa’s tenure a “very impressive record.”
President Rajapaksa, while thanking Israel for its assistance in the aftermath of the 2004 Boxing-Day tsunami, elaborated on the developments that have taken place in Sri Lanka since the end of the war.
The President who met the Sri Lankan community in Israel emphasized that he would leave no room for any force to divide the country. The President underscored that he would not permit for terrorism to raise its head on Sri Lankan soil.
President Rajapaksa also visited the Grove of Nations in Jerusalem Forest yesterday and planted an olive tree.
The President met with a group of members of the Israeli business community who are currently engaged in business activities in Sri Lanka and discussed agriculture, dairy production, irrigation, the tea industry and distance learning.
Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, External Affairs Moniroting MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena, UNP Prliamentarian John Amaratunge, Parliamentarians Kamala Ranatunge and Roshan Ranasinghe and President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge were among those who joined the President in this visit.
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