President touring Kenya [December 12 2013]

President Mahinda Rajapaksa began his four-day state visit in Kenya. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta received President Rajapaksa at the Jomo Kenyatta International Air Port last evening. Kenyas Deputy President William Ruto and Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amina Mohamed were also present.

This is the President’s second visit to the country. The last visit to Kenya was in 2000 to attend the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly on the Habitat Agenda, Presidential Secretariat said.

President Rajapaksa will attend Kenya’s Independence Day festivities today at the Moi International Sports Complex (MISC) in Kasarani on the outskirts of Nairobi. Kenya achieved its independence from the British in 1963, and this year’s jubilee celebrations are expected to be the largest in 50 years with a number of world leaders expected to attend.

The two presidents will hold bilateral talks at the State House on Saturday (14). Sri Lanka and Kenya are expected to sign a number of agreements in sectors such as trade, tourism and cultural cooperation, among others.

President Rajapaksa is also scheduled to visit the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), the U.N headquarters in Africa. President will hold discussions with the UNON Director General Sahle-Work Zewde and the heads of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and UN-Habitat based in Kenya. President Rajapaksa will also attend the Sri Lanka Business Forum, meet with the Kenyan business community and attend the 10th anniversary celebration of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Civil Aviation Mr. Geethanjana Gunawardena, Chief Minister of the Uva Province Mr. Shashindra Rajapaksa , Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Mr. Sajin De Vass Gunawardena and Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga comprises the Sri Lanka delegation.