Najib receives official welcome at Sri Lanka's presidential palace

COLOMBO: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was received in an official welcoming ceremony at the Sri Lanka presidential palace in conjunction with his visit here.
 
The Prime Minister was escorted by a mounted police honour guard to the Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat situated in the palace complex.

Cannons placed near the beach in front of the palace then fired a 21-gun salute in honour of Najib.

He arrived at the Presidential Secretariat at 10.00am (12.30pm Malaysian time) on Monday (Dec 18) and was welcomed by the traditional “Kandian” dance.

Najib was then introduced to Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena.

Both leaders held a four-eyed meeting for 30 minutes.

This was followed by a bilateral meeting with delegations from both countries.

Najib and Sirisena will then witness the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoU) between both countries.

The first MoU is between the governments of Malaysia and Sri Lanka on Cooperation in the Field of Training for Diplomats.

The second is between the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MiGHT) and Sri Lanka’s Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation, on Cooperation in Foresight & Science2Action programmes.

The third MoU is between the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation Sdn Bhd and Sri Lanka’s Coordinating Secretariat for Science Technology and Innovation, on collaboration in the field of science, technology and innovation activities, and biotechnology.

The Prime Minister along with delegates from both sides will then attend an official luncheon hosted by the President at his residence.

He will then hold a one-hour Roundtable Meeting with captains of industry comprising Malaysian, Sri Lankan and international firms.

Najib arrived at the Sri Lankan capital here Sunday (Dec 17) accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor for his first official visit to the country.

Also in the Malaysian delegation are Minister of International Trade and Industry 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 Minster Datuk Seri Reezal Merican, and Malaysia’s Special Envoy on Infrastructure to India and South Asia Tun S. Samy Vellu.