President Meets Leaders of Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal in Kathmandu
President Mahinda Rajapaksa held bilateral discussions with several leaders from SAARC countries during his stay in Kathmandu. These included Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of the 18th SAARC Summit, taking place in Kathmandu, Nepal. The discussion between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan focused mainly on the health and education sectors. President Ghani requested President Rajapaksa for assistance in these sectors, praising what Sri Lanka has achieved.
“There are so many lessons from Sri Lanka,” he said. “I must congratulate you on your social policy. What you have done with health and education is really remarkable. Sri Lanka’s human development indices are the best in South Asia, and it’s a tribute to your leadership.”
“I can speak to you for hours,” President Ghani told the President as officials had to end the lengthy, cordial discussion between the two leaders. Before concluding, President Ghani congratulated President Rajapaksa for the successful vote on the National Budget 2015. Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay also requested Sri Lanka for assistance in the health sector and thanked Sri Lanka for accommodating students from Bhutan.
“(I am) extremely grateful to you, your Government and people for allowing so many Bhutanese students to study in Sri Lankan universities,” Prime Minister Tobgay said while pointing out that President Rajapaksa’s visit to Bhutan helped further strengthen already good relations.
“Friendship with Sri Lanka is very important,” he said. “Relations between our two countries are strong and growing.”
The meetings President Rajapaksa had with the leaders of Maldives and Nepal focused on economic relations and tourism. Commending the development achievements in Sri Lanka, both leaders expressed the significance of stability to achieve economic development.
“To develop a country, you have to have a stable government,” said Maldives’ President Gayoom. For development, “There is no other way other than peace and stability,” Nepalese Prime Minister Koirala told President Rajapaksa.
With Nepal, President Rajapaksa discussed ways to enhance tourism between the two countries, particularly connecting places of religious significance since both countries have sites of great importance to Buddhists. Direct flights between Colombo and Kathmandu, scheduled to begin soon, are expected to make it much easier for pilgrims and others to visit the important sites.
Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Mr. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Nepal Mr. W.M. Senevirathna were also present.
