The occasion of the State Dinner hosted by President Alexander Lukashenko
26th August 2013
Response by HE Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the State Dinner hosted by HE Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus
Your Excellency President Lukashenko
Ladies and Gentlemen
At the outset, I wish to express my deep appreciation to Your Excellency for the kind invitation for a state visit and the warm and cordial hospitality accorded to me and my delegation on this occasion. This is my first visit to your country and to the beautiful city of Minsk.
Sri Lanka and Belarus enjoy close and cordial cooperation and over the years, our relations have expanded based on mutual respect and shared values. My visit to your country is a manifestation of Sri Lanka’s desire to build upon the already existing close and cordial relations into a steadfast partnership. I have been touched by the expressions of goodwill and friendship extended by Your Excellency, the Government and people of Belarus since my arrival in Minsk.
Your Excellency,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We share many common platforms in a number of regional and international fora, where we have been supporting each other. Such interactions have paved the way to jointly face emerging challenges and also to exploit new opportunities.
Under the visionary leadership of Your Excellency, Belarus has achieved rapid economic growth and significant improvement in the quality of life of all your citizens. Today, your country has achieved a high level of development together with inter-ethnic and religious harmony. We in Sri Lanka have taken note of these transformations and the pace of development in Belarus.
Your Excellency,
It is evident that there is considerable potential for the expansion of economic relations between our two countries. It is for this reason that delegations of leading businessmen of my country, who are keenly interested in developing business partnerships with their Belarus counterparts, have accompanied me on this visit. The Business Forum will provide an opportunity to showcase to the entrepreneurs in Belarus, the enormous potential for trade, investment and tourism promotion between our two countries. Having emerged from a protracted terrorist conflict that negatively impacted on Sri Lanka’s economic growth, my country has now entered an era of rapid economic development, particularly with tourism becoming a growing sector. The prevalent stable environment for investment provided many opportunities for the business community of your country. I am confident that the introduction of our business communities to one another at this juncture, will undoubtedly pave the way to embark into new vistas of cooperation.
I also believe that there are areas for further expansion of our bilateral relations, as in the fields of education, culture and sports. I have no doubt that cooperation in these areas will further strengthen people to people contacts. Undoubtedly this visit has opened a new chapter in our bilateral relations. The seven Agreements and MOUs signed today, establish a legal framework which will further enhance the relations between our two countries.
Your Excellency,
The kind words, gracious hospitality and warm interactions will leave enduring and fond memories of this state visit for me and my delegation, which undoubtedly will translate into active cooperation between our Governments and enhance people to people contract.
It is my honour therefore to toast:
To the health, happiness and personal wellbeing of His Excellency Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus.
To the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Belarus.
To the longstanding close friendship and further strengthened cooperation and partnership between Sri Lanka and Belarus. Thank you.
