Visiting Sri Lankan President accorded official welcome
PUTRAJAYA: Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena, who arrived yesterday for a threeday visit to Malaysia, was accorded an official welcome at Perdana Putra here yesterday.
Sirisena was greeted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak upon his arrival at 10am, and the national anthems of the two countries were played.
The Sri Lankan President then inspected a guard- of-honour mounted by 103 officers and men from the 1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment.
Sirisena, accompanied by Najib, was then introduced to the cabinet ministers, senior government officials and foreign diplomats present.
Najib and Sirisena later held talks.
A Foreign Ministry statement said both leaders would also hold a bilateral meeting that would provide opportunities for both countries to review existing relations and cooperation, as well as identify potential areas for future collaboration.
Five memoranda of understanding would be concluded between the two countries, covering the areas of tourism, youth development, culture, arts and heritage, foreign workers, as well as scientific and technical cooperation, it said.
Wisma Putra said Malaysia and Sri Lanka enjoyed warm and wide ranging substantive relations in trade and investment, education, tourism and culture, human resources, capacity building, youth, and sports which had brought about mutual benefits to both countries.
It said the visit would provide new impetus to the bilateral cooperation that would cement and elevate relations between Malaysia and Sri Lanka to greater heights.
This is Sirisena's maiden visit to Malaysia since assuming the post in January last year. — Bernama