President Sirisena arrives in London on four-day official visit

Monday, 9 March 2015 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena arrived at London Heathrow Airport commencing his three-day official visit to the United Kingdom, March 7, 2015. First Lady Jayanthi Sirisena is accompanying the President. Two Sri Lankan children welcomed the President and the First Lady at the airport

Her Majesty the Queen’s special representative Baroness Garden of Frognal welcomed President Maithripala Sirisena and the First Lady as they arrived at London Heathrow Airport, March 7, 2015. President Maithripala Sirisena, as the Chair in Office of the Commonwealth, will attend the Commonwealth Day Observances on the ninth President Maithripala Sirisena and First Lady Jayanthi Sirisena arrived in London by a scheduled commercial flight on 7 March, beginning a four-day official visit to the United Kingdom. At the London Heathrow International Airport, the Baroness Garden of Frognal and Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner in London received the President. President Sirisena, as the Chairperson-in-Office of the Commonwealth, will attend the Commonwealth Day Observance, themed ‘A Young Commonwealth’, tomorrow. The day’s events will take place in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, members of the Royal Family and senior politicians, High Commissioners and Commonwealth dignitaries. The President will participate in a multi-faith observance at Westminster Abbey in London, UK, followed by a reception hosted by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, at the Commonwealth Secretariat in Marlborough House, London. In his four-day official visit to the UK, President Sirisena is expected to hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron. President Sirisena will meet with members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka (APGSL) and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPGT) at the House of Lords. The President will have an audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday. As is customary, the President will also meet with the Sri Lankan community in the United Kingdom before concluding his visit. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera, Presidential Adviser on International Affairs, Dr. Chris Nonis and many senior Government officials are accompanying the President.