Sri Lankan President hosted to reception at State House |02 July 2013

The activity, which took place in the State House garden, also served as a celebration of twenty-five years of friendship and partnership between the two countries.

Also present at Sunday’s ceremony were Vice-President Danny Faure, chief justice Fredrick Egonda-Ntende and president of the Court of Appeal Francis MacGregor, ministers, members of the National Assembly, religious leaders, other government dignitaries and members of the local Sri Lankan community.

At the gathering, President Michel offered a toast to the good health of his Sri Lankan counterpart, to the prosperity of the people of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and to the special bond which exists between our two countries.

“Twenty-five years ago we started to build a bridge of friendship between our two countries. Today, on the occasion of your visit, we celebrate this friendship and the bond that binds us together. We will continue to enhance our good cooperation,” President Michel said while offering the toast.

In reply, the Sri Lankan president also wished good health to President Michel and prosperity to the people of Seychelles.
 
Describing the event as “a happy occasion”, he wished that the good friendship between Sri Lanka and Seychelles will prevail.

During the evening, the bond of friendship between the two nations was demonstrated through the fusion of our cultures as shown by the traditional dances performed by artists from both countries, and by the master of ceremony, Ruth Dinushimohitti, a Seychelloise of Sri Lankan origin.

Other artists who offered a touch of the Sri Lankan and Seychellois cultures included Jany, Brian Matombé, the ‘Metis’ group and vocalist Ruth Matharaarachchi, who had flown all the way from Colombo for the occasion.