President vows to turn country into an economic and commercial hub

Doha: President Mahinda Rajapaksa vowed to turn his country, recovering from three-decade long terrorism, into an economic and commercial hub of the region.

Addressing the 12th Doha Forum and Enriching the Middle East’s Economic Future Conference at the Doha Sheraton Hotel on Sunday (20) morning as an international Guest of Honour, President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka is ready to establish lasting peace with sustainable economic prosperity.

He said his Government is committed to empower the economy for the benefit of all citizens and make Sri Lanka the economic hub of the region for the people to enjoy the benefits of the development.

The President called on all the communities in the island nation to unite as one national force disregarding communal differences to achieve this goal successfully.

President Rajapaksa said his Government is also committed to empower the rural economy and agriculture in the island as well as the IT sector.

The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani opened the 12th Doha Forum and welcomed the participants.

The three-day international forum will offer a sweeping overview of issues regarding democracy, development and free trade in the Middle-East, the Arab countries and the world.

The meeting will broadly discuss critical political, economic, social, financial, strategic and human matters of pressing concern for the region.

Over 610 participants representing 84 countries and organisations are attending the Forum. It will conclude on 22 May.

Sri Lankan President is attending the Forum as an International Guest of Honour at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani.

Following his address, the President paid a courtesy call on the Emir, who visited Sri Lanka with a business delegation in January this year, and discussed bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the oil rich Gulf country.

During the Emir’s highly successful visit representatives of the two countries have signed nine agreements inter alia, in the fields of education, Economic, Commerce and Technology, cultural affairs, legal affairs, tourism and civil aviation to promote bilateral cooperation.

Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, who ended their tour in the United States on Friday, joined the President in Doha.