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| HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani being received at Bandaranaike International Airport by President Mahinda Rajapakse and senior officials |
HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse held a round of official talks in the presidential secretariat in Colombo yesterday evening. Talks dealt with bilateral relations and ways to promote them in various fields besides the latest regional and international developments.
The session was attended by a number of members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Emir. On the Sri Lankan side, the session was attended by many ministers and senior officials.
The Emir and the Sri Lankan president then held a bilateral meeting. After that they witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding, including one on economic, trade and technical co-operation, another on cultural tie-up and a third one on legal co-operation between the governments.
Memorandums were also signed on tourism, on education, higher education and scientific research and on civil aviation. A fourth memorandum has been signed on forming a joint committee between Qatar and Sri Lanka.
Qatar Holding and Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment signed a memorandum on bilateral investment with Qatar Holding and another one with Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.
HH the Emir and the Sri Lankan president witnessing the signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding in Colombo
The Emir arrived in Colombo yesterday afternoon on a two-day official visit. The Emir and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport by President Rajapakse.
A number of Sri Lankan ministers and senior officials along with Saeed bin Abdulla al-Mansouri, Qatar’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, and Manjusri Jayantha Palipane, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Qatar, were among the well-wishers to welcome the Emir.
In a speech upon arrival, the Emir, who was accorded an official reception ceremony, said: “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 President Mahinda Rajapakse upon his kind invitation to visit the friendly Republic of Sri Lanka and have the chance to discuss various issues of mutual concern, means of promoting friendship and enhancing bilateral co-operation in various fields for the interest and welfare of our people. I am sure that this visit will contribute to deepen the prospects for co-operation between our two countries, that we both aspire for.”
HH the Emir and President Rajapakse holding talks in the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo
