On a directive of the Minister of External Affairs  Prof G.L. Peiris, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Australia Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, who is also concurrently accredited to  the Solomon Islands visited the Solomon Islands on 22nd May 2014 and called on Gordon Darcy Lilo, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands and handed over a letter from President Rajapaksa, and also handed over a bank draft of USD 50,000/- to  Connelly Sandakabatu, Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination. Robert Iroga, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister and  Ranjith Hewagama, Hony Consul- designate in Solomon Islands were present at the meeting.

The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands conveyed his profound gratitude for the donation and appreciated the kind gesture of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to support the people of Solomon Islands in their hour of need. The Prime Minister assured the High Commissioner that the funds donated by the Government of Sri Lanka would be gainfully utilized in meeting the immediate needs of food, shelter and sanitation. He also recalled his memorable time in Sri Lanka during the CHOGM 2013 and expressed his appreciation of the President and the Government of Sri Lanka for the rare achievement.

The Prime Minister Lilo conveyed his best wishes to President Rajapaksa and the people of Sri Lanka and emphasized the value of this strong friendship between the two countries.

High Commissioner Samarasinghe also called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs,  Clay F Soalaoi and the Secretary/Foreign Affairs  Beraki Jino who were also very appreciative of the kind gesture of the cash donation from Sri Lanka.