President Rajapaksa and the First Lady, who arrived in Ibrahim Nasir International Airport on Thursday, were warmly received by the Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim. President Rajapaksa and the First Lady arrived in a boat parade from the airport to the main jetty in the capital Malé and were afforded a red carpet welcome. President Rajapaksa was accorded a 21-gun salute by the National Defense Force of Maldives. National anthems of Sri Lanka and the Maldives were played followed by a guard of honor. Maldivian officials said President Rajapaksa is the only foreign leader after the Queen of England to receive such a grand welcome in Maldives.

Presidents of Sri Lanka and Maldives held a one-to-one meeting on the same day of arrival, followed by official bilateral discussions between the delegations of both countries. During the discussion, a number of matters of mutual interest were discussed and several agreements reached. President Rajapaksa also met the former President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Three agreements were signed before President Rajapaksa and President Abdul Gayoom.

During his stay in Seychelles, President Rajapaksa will hold bilateral discussions with Seychelles President James Michel and is scheduled to open the Sri Lankan Embassy in Victoria, the capital of Seychelles.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Higher Education Mr. S.B. Dissanayake, Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Mr. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Members of Parliament Mr. A.H.M. Azwar, Mr. Lohan Ratwatta, Mr. Udith Lokubandara, Mr. Ranjith de Zoysa and Mr. Thenuka Vidanagamage, Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga and Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne are accompanying the President during the Seychelles visit. (HC/SI)