President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been presented with the prestigious Khalifa Medal, which is the highest honour of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The King of Bahrain, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa presenting the prestigious Medal has said that the medal is being presented to President Rajapaksa in appreciation and recognition of the efforts the President is personally exerting to move with bilateral ties between Bahrain and Sri Lanka to a higher level of development and progress.
The Order of Al-Khalifa was founded in 1940 and revived in the 1970s. The medal honours the dedication of the late Amir Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa to humanitarianism. The medal has only been presented to a handful of notable leaders including the King of Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and Queen Elizabeth II.
Upon receiving the medal, President Rajapaksa said that he is humbled and honoured to receive the prestigious medial and with Bahrain Sri Lanka seek to build an enhanced dynamic partnership. The President has also stated that the kind words, gracious hospitality and warm interactions will leave enduring and fond memories of this state visit, which undoubtedly will translate into active cooperation between Sri Lanka and the State of Bahrain.
Ministers of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris, Commerce and Industry Rishad Bathiudeen, Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Dilan Perera, Deputy Minister of Labour and Labour Relations Sarath Weerasekara ,Western Provincial Councilor Nowzer Fowzie, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Bahrain Anura Rajakaruna were present at the awarding ceremony along with members from the Sri Lankan business delegation.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and Bahrain have signed four Memoranda of Understanding yesterday on sports, culture and arts, and another between the University of Colombo and the University of Bahrain.
During bilateral discussions, the two leaders have discussed a number of matters of mutual interest while also expressing the mutual support of the two countries in the international arena.
Sri Lanka established a new Sri Lankan mission in the Bahraini capital Manama in February 2013.
In 2009, Sri Lanka hosted the Prime Minister of Bahrain on a two-day visit during which he donated one million U.S.Dollars for reconstruction work in the North.