President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, arrived in Doha yesterday on an official visit. The President and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, Qatar’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka H E Rashid bin Shafea Al Marri, and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Qatar H E Don Prince Solomon Anura Liyanage.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit to Qatar aims at further enhancing bilateral ties between the two countries. The high-profile visit will boost cooperation between the two countries in several sectors including energy, trade and investment, said ASP Liyanage, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Qatar.
Sirisena’s two-day official visit to Qatar begins today and he is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as well as with high level officials tomorrow. The President will meet the Sri Lankan residents in Qatar today.
Qatar-Sri Lanka Business and Investment Meeting will also be held today. The business meeting aims to attract Qatari investors to seize the investment opportunities available for foreign investment in the island nation. The visit will also witness signing of six agreements between Qatar and Sri Lanka.
“The two-day visit of the Sri Lankan President to Qatar will further boost the cooperation between the two countries. It will enhance the bilateral diplomatic relationships and common interests in other areas including trade and investment,†ASP Liyanage, told The Peninsula.
“Besides several high level meetings between the Sri Lankan President and Qatari dignitaries, there will be six important agreements that will be signed between Qatar and Sri Lanka, including one related to the energy sector,†he added. Sirisena, who is making the second visit of a Sri Lankan head of state to Qatar, is accompanied by a high level delegation including several senior ministers including, Dr Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Rauff Hakeem, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, Rishad Badiudeen, Minister of Minister of Industry and Commerce, Faisal Mustafa, Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils, Wasantha Senanayake, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ajith P Perera, Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy. Around 120,000 Sri Lankans are employed in Qatar and diplomatic relations between the two countries was established in 1976.