RIYADH, 3 February 2004 — Elaborate arrangements are being made by the Sri Lankan community in the Kingdom to celebrate the country’s national day tomorrow.
The Sri Lankan Embassy will host a reception for all Sri Lankans in Riyadh. Ambassador Ibrahim Sahib Ansar will unfurl the national flag at 9 a.m. He will then read messages of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Premier Ranil Wickremasinghe.
The Sri Lankan Expatriates Society (SLES) will host a public reception to all Sri Lankans in the presence of Ambassador Ansar and Mrs. Ansar at 7.30 p.m. on the embassy premises. The ambassador will present the awards to the winners of the art competition held Thursday in connection with the event.
In Jeddah, Consul General A.C.M. Ibrahim will hoist the national flag at 8.30 a.m. on the consulate premises. Ibrahim told Arab News that the VIPs who have come for this year’s Haj will also participate in the function. Among the prominent Sri Lankans who will attend include Minister of Cooperatives A.R.M. Abdul Cader, Riza Badurdeen and former Health Minister Abdul Hameed Mohamed Fowzie.
