Press Release
At the invitation of The Rt. Hon’bleBidya Devi Bhandari, President of Nepal, His Excellency Mr. MaithripalaSirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is on an official goodwill visit to Nepal on 1-2 September 2018.The President of Sri Lanka is accompanied by his Spouse Mrs. Jayanthi PushpaKumari, His Excellency Mr. VasantaSenanayake, State Minister of Foreign Affairs and other high level officials of the Government of Sri Lanka.
ThePresident of Sri Lanka had a bilateral meeting with The Rt. Hon’bleBidya Devi Bhandari on 1 September 2018. A wide range of issues pertaining to Nepal-Sri Lanka relations were discussed on the occasion. The two Presidents also expressed happiness on the successful conclusion of the 4th BIMSTEC Summit held in Kathmandu on 30-31 August 2018.
The two Presidents witnessed the exchange of two Memoranda of Understanding between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Sri Lanka.The MoU between the Institute of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute of Sri Lanka was signed by the Foreign Secretary Mr. Shanker Das Bairagi and Her Excellency Ms. W.S. Parera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal. The MoU on Cooperation for the Youth Development was signed by Mr. Mohan Krishna Sapkota, Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports of Nepal and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal.
The President of Nepal also hosted dinner in honour of the President of Sri Lanka and his delegation.
Earlier, The Rt. Hon’ble K.P. Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepalcalled on the President of Sri Lanka, during which views were expressed on further strengthening relations between the two countries on mutually beneficial spheres.
The President of Sri Lanka visited Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The Hon’bleUmakanta Jha, Chief of Province 5,The Hon’bleRabindraAdhikari, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, provincial ministers and officials ofLumbini Development Trust accorded a warm welcome to the Sri Lankan President and his delegation. President Sirisena offered prayers at the Mayadevi Temple and also inspected the Sri Lankan monastery built on the Lumbini premises.He also paid homage to Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu during his visit.
Upon completion of his visit to Nepal, President Sirisena is leaving for Sri Lanka this afternoon.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Nepal
2 September 2018
