Foreign dignitaries to attend President's swearing-in

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

Several Heads of States will arrive in Sri Lanka to attend the second swearing-in ceremony of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 19.

Among them are the President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed, Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigmi Y. Thinley and Chinese Presidential Envoy Sang Guowei. Sang, Cice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will arrive in Sri Lanka on November 17 as a guest of President Rajapaksa. He will also attend the launching ceremony of Hambantota Port, built by China Harbour Engineering Company. Diplomatic sources said in the aftermath of the conflict, many countries wanted to send their representatives to Sri Lanka to witness the development activities.

During his visit to the United Nations General Assembly President Rajapaksa had called for international support to rebuild the country and also invited foreign heads to visit Sri Lanka to witness the post conflict development and reconciliation activities.

A Serbian delegation, led by the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mirko Stefonovic arrived in Sri Lanka on November 12 and had bi-lateral discussions with Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne and External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris.

The Iranian delegation now in Sri Lanka will assist the resettlement of the Northern Muslims and will visit Jaffna and Mannar.

The Director General of Public Communication and Foreign Ministry spokesman Bandula Jayasekara said delegations from Belgium, China and Russia are also due to visit Sri Lanka for bilateral discussions. According to Jayasekara, Pakistan President Mohamed Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna will visit Sri Lanka this month.

Pakistani President Zardari, who will be in Sri Lanka for three-days, will have bi-lateral discussions to boost trade and security cooperation between the two countries.