Najib in Sri Lanka on official visit

COLOMBO: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday for a three-day official visit.

The special aircraft carrying Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor landed at Bandaranaike International Airport at 8.40am local time.

The prime minister was greeted by Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana, Malaysia’s charge d’affaires at the Malaysian High Commission, Zainal Izran Zahari, and senior government officers.

The prime minister was accorded a grand welcoming ceremony where he was also introduced to Sri Lankan ministers and the diplomatic corps by Marapana, Bernama reported.

Najib’s schedule will begin with a meeting with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, and his first official visit is also to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

The prime minister’s entourage includes International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Special Envoy to South Asia, Tun S. Samy Vellu.

Najib is scheduled to witness the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoU) between the two governments and private companies.

The MoUs include collaboration in training for diplomatic officers, science and technology studies, health tourism and collaboration with several private companies including Axiata Group, one of Asia’s leading telecommunications groups.

Najib will meet the Malaysian diaspora in Sri Lanka and attend a luncheon hosted by Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe before leaving for the Maldives tomorrow.