The Qatari Premier concludes his official visit to Sri Lanka
Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar paid an official visit to Sri Lanka from 12th to 13th December, 2011 accompanied by Youse Hussain Kamal, Minister of Economy and Finance and over 20 heads of Qatari investment agencies together with a high powered business delegation. The Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, External Affairs Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris and the Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation, Dr. Sarath Amunugama received the Qatari Prime Minister on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport. The Qatari Premier was accorded a red carpet welcome and a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Air Force. This was the first official visit of a Qatari Prime Minister to Sri Lanka since the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries in 1995
The Qatari Prime Minister on December 12 (Monday), evening met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat for bilateral discussions. Several Cabinet Ministers, Secretaries to the Ministries and heads of some Government Institutions were present at the bilateral discussions. Qatari Premier expressed his sincere appreciation to President Rajapaksa for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and reiterated Qatar's firm resolve to further strengthening of multifaceted relations with Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa briefed the Qatari counterpart on the post war development, peace, and reconciliation in the country and the potential investment opportunities exist for the international community to partake in the emerging sectors in the Sri Lankan economy.
The Qatari Prime Minister praised President Rajapaksa over the achievements of the Government of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the conflict and emphasized the need for closer links between the two countries in the economic cooperation and investment promotion. The Qatari premier also said that the Government of the State of Qatar and its investors are ready to invest in the mega hotel projects in tourist zones of Sri Lanka.
The Qatari Prime Minister informed that a group of leading Qatari investors will visit Sri Lanka to explore the possibilities for mobilization of more Qatar investment in the tourism industry and also infrastructure projects in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
He reiterated that the prevailing bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Government of Sri Lanka will further be strengthened for the benefit of the two countries in the years ahead.
President Rajapaksa hosted the Qatari Premier and the delegation to a Banquet at the president's house that evening.
On December 13, 2011, Minister of External Affairs, Prof Peiris called on the Qatari Prime Minister. During the discussion with the Qatari Premier, the External Affairs Minister expressing his gratitude for the interest shown by the Qatari Premier to select Sri Lanka as a potential investment site, briefed the delegates on the potential opportunities in the tourism sector including development of tourist resorts and the investment opportunities in the Colombo Stock Exchange.
The Qatari Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister had a meeting with the Minister of Economic Development in Colombo on the same day. The Qatari Premier along with his delegation met with a group of prominent businessmen and entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka in the presence of the External Affairs Minister and the Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation. During the meetings the Qatari Prime Minister showed keen interest in exploring investment opportunities in Sri Lanka particularly in the areas of tourism including investment in hotels and also in the Colombo Stock Exchange.
The Qatari Premier visit to Sri Lanka is expected to consolidate the longstanding bilateral relations and also open up new avenues of cooperation for mutual benefit between the two countries.