President Dr Waheed to meet Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa today

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has arrived in Sri Lanka on an official visit, and his meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take place at 16:30 (Sri Lankan time) today at the Presidential Secretariat in Sri Lanka.

Press Secretary of the President’s Office Masood Imad has also informed that discussions on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries will be held today.

Prior to his departure, President Dr Waheed told reporters at the airport that Sri Lanka had expressed interest to act as a mediator to solve the current political conflicts faced by the Maldives.

President Dr Waheed arrived in Sri Lanka at 11:30 today on Sri Lankan Airlines.

On arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, the President and First Lady were received by Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris, and Maldivian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Mr Hussain Shihab.

The airport region in Sri Lanka and Hilton Hotel area, where the President will be staying, have been decorated with Maldivian and Sri Lankan flags.

During this three-day visit, the President is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla, Minister of Economic Development Ahmed Mohamed, Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Gafoor and Minister of Environment and Energy Dr Mariyam Shakeela.

The President will meet the diplomatic community and major business leaders in Sri Lanka tomorrow.

He is will also meet the Maldivian students in Sri Lanka during this visit.

The Sri Lankan President will host a state banquet in the honour of President Waheed this evening.