RIYADH: Sri Lankans in the Kingdom look forward to permanent peace back home for them to work at ease in Saudi Arabia, said Abdul Ageed Mohamed Marleen, Sri Lankan ambassador, when he was delivering his opening remarks at the 61st Independence Day celebrations held in Riyadh yesterday.
“Sri Lankan expatriates in the Kingdom want their families to live peacefully in Sri Lanka. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has assured that he would restore permanent peace so that all the ethnic groups in the island could lead a normal life without any fear from terror,” the envoy said, adding that violence in any form should be condemned at all costs.
He pointed out that the Sri Lankans in the Kingdom have set an example to be emulated by others in their motherland for living in unity. The ambassador with his wife Fathima Marleen hosted a breakfast morning to all Sri Lankans in Riyadh following the ceremonial flag hoisting ceremony. He unfurled the national flag amid the beat of drums (Magul bera) at the embassy premises. Then the community members joined the choir of the Sri Lankan International School in Riyadh to recite the national anthem.
Saprullah Khan, first secretary, Sarath Kumara, minister and Labor Counselor E.W. Ranawake read out the messages of Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama during the morning function.
In Jeddah, Consul General Abdul Latiff Mohamed Lafeer hoisted the national flag at the consulate premises. Traditional Sri Lankan dishes such as kiribath, kevun, kokis and mung kevun were served during the morning functions in Riyadh and Jeddah.
Last night, the consul general and his wife Rifaya Lafeer hosted a dinner to the members of the diplomatic community and government officials at the Jeddah Intercontinental Hotel.
