SL under Sirisena is example for ethnic and religious harmony: Ex-Turkish PM

Former Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu hailed the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena, saying it established religious and ethnic harmony, thus serving as an example to other countries. 

“Malaysia and Sri Lanka are the success stories in Asia, where most countries are grappling with terrorism and militancy due to ethnic and religious tensions,” he said when he called on President Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

Davutoglu said he had witnessed the magnificent Dalada Perehera in Kandy and this morning a colourful Hindu Vel festival in Pettah in Colombo and was delighted to see such ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka. He also congratulated President Sirisena for strengthening democracy in the country and for the “most successful foreign policy”.

The President thanked Turkey for the support given to Sri Lanka at international forums. He stressed the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, commerce, agriculture, tourism and aviation. 

The former Turkish Premier, who was accompanied by Cabinet Chief Yunus Sonmez and Senior Advisor Mehmet Aytein, said that Turkey, being the sixth-largest tourist destination in the world, could cooperate with Sri Lanka as the country had immense tourism potential.

Davutoglu said Sri Lanka could easily become an air hub for the region and establish direct links with Turkey, a major air hub in the gateway to Europe and Asia. He pointed out that both countries were situated along important global sea lanes and could derive a maximum advantage from the location.

President Sirisena thanked the former Turkish Premier for visiting Sri Lanka to deliver the M.A. Bakeer Markar Memorial Lecture. “The late Speaker Bakeer Markar was a highly respected, great statesman,” he said. 

Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, Turkish Ambassador Tunca Ozuhadar and Azam Bakeer Markar were also present at this meeting.