KUWAIT, 21 May 2007 — In his maiden tour to the Middle East as Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse will visit Kuwait on a two-day state visit beginning today, S.A.C.M. Zuhyle, the island’s ambassador to Kuwait, told Arab News.
“Rajapakse is visiting the Gulf for the first time since he became the country’s president in 2005, “ the ambassador said, adding that the visit would focus on three major areas — investment, labor and culture — to enable the two countries to renew their bilateral ties and cooperation in the respective areas . “
Rajapakse has always stood for the cause of the Arabs on all international forums. He is the founder president of the Sri Lanka-Palestinian Friendship Association in Colombo and has espoused its cause at global conferences . On a directive from the president, the island is to establish an Interest Section in Palestine shortly, he added .
Rajapakse, who leads a 40 member team of businessmen, will be accompanied by a galaxy of ministers including Rohitha Bogollagama, minister of foreign affairs, G.L. Pieris, minister of exports , Dr. Sarath Amunugama, minister of enterprise development, Abdul Hameed Mohammed Fowzie, minister of petroleum and petroleum resources and Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, minister of foreign employment promotion and welfare. Nawaz Rajabdeen, president of the Sri Lanka Federation of Chambers of Commerce heads the team of businessmen.
President Rajapakse will be arriving here from Jordan, where he addressed the World Economic Forum which was attended by top global business leaders. He will hold discussions with the emir of Kuwait on issues of bilateral interests and is slated to address Kuwaiti businessmen at the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He will also meet his community members at a special reception hosted at the Sri Lankan mission by the ambassador.
He will also seek cooperation from aviation authorities to introduce Mihin Air, the country’s budget airline, to Kuwait. Currently, the airline flies to South Indian capitals and Dubai. The low-cost airline provides airfare half the price of the regular airlines. There are more than 100,000 Lankans workers working in various parts of the country.
Rajapakse has also summoned the Lankan ambassadors in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for a discussion in Kuwait where he will get first-hand information on the island’s workers’ problems from the respective ambassadors . Ambassador Zuhyle said the president is keen on developing economic relations with the Gulf countries through Lankan missions in the GCC countries.
