Maldives’ President Gayoom in town next week

By Nabiha Ariff
Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will be in Sri Lanka for a three day bilateral visit in the second week of February, Foreign Affairs Ministry says.

“We have been waiting to receive him in Sri Lanka as he is a dear friend of Sri Lanka,” Foreign Ministry’s Public Communications Director General Ravinatha Ariyasinha told The Bottom Line.

According to Ariyasinha, President Gayoom will hold bilateral discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa during the three-day state visit.

He added that this was also a reciprocal visit, since the Sri Lankan President visited Maldives last year. The Director General said that the Ministry had organised a very interesting itinerary for the Maldivian President during his stay in Sri Lanka. President Gayoom will also receive a presidential award as a mark of honour during his state visit to Sri Lanka.