Sri Lankan President Appreciates Indonesia’s Rice Donation

President Jokowi and President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena conduct a veranda talk, on Wednesday (8/3), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena admitted that he is deeply touched by the warm welcome, generosity, and hospitality poured out by President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo and the people of Indonesia for him and his delegates.

“I would like to extend warm greetings from the people of Sri Lanka to the people of Indonesia. Thank you for the hospitality during my  state visit, which takes place after several decades,” President Maithripala Sirisena said in a joint press statement with President Jokowi, on Wednesday (8/3), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

According to Maithripala, Sri Lanka and Indonesia share a long historical relationship. The two countries have been partners in many international initiatives such as the Colombo Conference, the Bandung Conference (the Asian-African Conference) in 1955, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

“We are common inheritors of the Indian Ocean. I congratulate President Joko Widodo on Indonesia’s leadership of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and its Leaders’ Summit, which has just concluded,” Maithripala added.

On that occasion, President Maithripala Sirisena also conveyed his gratitude for the 5,000 metric tons of rice from Indonesia, given by President Joko Widodo to the people of Sri Lanka. “I thank the Government of Indonesia for the hand of friendship to Sri Lanka at this time of need,” Maithripala firmly said.

According to President Maithripala, both leaders have agreed on several concrete initiatives to enhance relations and partnership between Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

The two countries, Maithripala added, will work together to strengthen economic engagement and to cooperate in the areas of food security and agriculture, marine and fisheries, disaster management, technology transfer on railways, aviation, tourism,  health, education and research, skills development and vocational training, rubber industry, defence and security, as well as other areas of mutual interest.

President Maithripala also invited President Jokowi to visit Sri Lanka at an early date. “I look forward to President Joko Widodo’s visit to Sri Lanka and to carry on our discussions in order to further consolidate our relations in the years ahead,” President Maithripala concluded. (DNA/RAH/ES) (RA/MMB/YM/Naster)