UK visit:

President to officiate as C’wealth head

by Ranil Wijayapala

President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chair in Office of the Commonwealth during his first official visit to the United Kingdom will participate in the Commonwealth Day celebtrations traditionally attended by Her Majesty the Queen who is head of the Commonwealth, on Monday, a spokesperson for the President’s media unit said yesterday.

Commonwealth Day celebrations will be held on Monday in the presence of 2,000 participants including High Commissioners and dignitaries representing the Commonwealth, in addition to 1,000 young people from schools across the UK.

Young people, schools, communities and civil society organisations on the second Monday in March annually celebrate Commonwealth Day across the Commonwealth. It promotes understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the working of Commonwealth organizations.

‘A Young Commonwealth’ is the theme of this year’s celebrations. The day is marked by a range of activities, including a multi-faith observances at Westminster Abbey in London, followed by a reception hosted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma.

A spokesperson for the President’s Office said, President Maithripala Sirisena and the delegation left for the UK on an Emirates flight, EK 651 at 9.50 am yesterday to commence a four-day official visit to the UK, the second official foreign tour after the President assumed office.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera, Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan, Leader of the National Unity Front Azath Salley were also among delegates accompanied by the President.

During the visit President Maithripala Sirisena will enlighten the Commonwealth nations about the steps taken by the National Unity Government to strengthen the democratic practices in the country after his victory at the Presidential election on January 8, this year.He will convey the upsurge of Commonwealth values in Sri Lanka, with the new government launching an ambitious program to strengthen democratic practices.

The 100-day program of the new government comprises many of the Commonwealth principles such as democracy, human rights, tolerance, respect and understanding, freedom of expression, separation of powers, rule of law, good governance, sustainable development and gender equality.President Sirisena will assure the fullest cooperation for implementation of the Commonwealth strategies adopted at the last CHOGM in Colombo in November 2013, being the Chair-in-Office of Commonwealth until the next CHOGM scheduled to be held in Malta. According to the Presidential Information Unit the President will look forward to the assistance of the Commonwealth to overcome post-conflict challenges in Sri Lanka in the context of the government’s plans for reconciliation between communities, those who follow different faiths and between different political parties to set up a new political culture of meaningful democracy in Sri Lanka.

The President will participate at the reception hosted by Her Majesty the Queen who is the head of the Commonwealth on March 10.

The President will hold bilateral discussions with the British Prime Minister David Cameron on March 10 and meet all party representatives of the British parliament on the same day, the Presidential Media Unit said.