Your Excellency Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Madam Wickremesinghe, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It gives me great pleasure, once again, to extend a very warm welcome to you, Mr. Prime Minister, and Madam Wickremesinghe. I wish both of you and the distinguished members of your delegation a very happy and fruitful stay in the Maldives.
Mr. Prime Minister:
Your visit highlights the traditional bonds of friendship that exist between our two countries. It also demonstrates the importance that you attach to further developing our close and cordial bilateral relations.
I recall with great pleasure my meeting with you, Excellency, when you visited Male’ in November 1993. I also recall how happy my wife and I were to host your President on her official visit to the Maldives in October 1999. I have vivid memories, as well, of my visits to Sri Lanka, the most recent being in July 1998 to attend the 10th SAARC Summit. The friendship that our two countries enjoy is indeed further strengthened and consolidated by such frequent high level contact between us.
Mr. Prime Minister:
A short while ago, we exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest. That has no doubt paved the way to building upon the excellent relations that have existed between our two countries for a very long time.
Indeed, the Maldives and Sri Lanka enjoy a unique friendship born of traditional ties in ethnicity, language and culture. These bonds signify historical ties that date back hundreds of years. The relationship has been served well by geographic proximity, frequent travel and brisk trade. In recent years, our bilateral relations have been reinforced by development co-operation, and enriched through collaboration for the promotion of shared values in regional and international diplomacy.
Mr. Prime Minister:
Sri Lanka has made important contributions to our current development. A number of prominent Maldivians have been educated in your excellent academic institutions. Many Sri Lankan teachers, headmasters and principals have, over the past 40 years, greatly contributed to the development of a modern system of education in this country.
Our tourism industry, too, has benefited immensely from links with tour operators and travel agents in your country. Furthermore, Sri Lanka is a major partner in our foreign trade. Private investors from both our countries are today carrying out successful business operations in each other’s country. More than 8,000 Sri Lankans are at present gainfully employed in the Maldives, contributing to the social and economic progress of our country.
Large numbers of Maldivians travel to your beautiful country on business, on holiday, or for further education. Sporting exchanges are also on the rise. Indeed, official and private sector interaction between the Maldives and Sri Lanka is very close and extensive.
Mr. Prime Minister:
As neighbours and good friends, we in the Maldives have been deeply concerned over the prolonged ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka that has claimed thousands of lives in the past two decades. We have consistently welcomed every bid for peace in your country.
Therefore, it is with much pleasure that we express the hope that the ongoing peace talks would lead to a political solution satisfactory to the entire people of Sri Lanka. We wish all parties concerned success in bringing about lasting peace to Sri Lanka that would enhance renewed opportunities for the progress and prosperity of your nation.
Mr. Prime Minister:
Both our countries share the same outlook on all regional and international issues. We hold common views on the main issues on the SAARC agenda, especially with regard to accelerating economic co-operation. I am sure that Sri Lanka shares our hope that favourable conditions will prevail soon that would make it possible for the 12th SAARC Summit to take place early next year.
On the international front, Sri Lanka and the Maldives hold common views on all major issues. We are committed to the principles of the UN Charter and of international law. The Maldives believes that the international community has an obligation to assist small states to strengthen their security. We support peace and freedom, and oppose terrorism in all its forms.
Of particular concern to small island states are the consequences of environmental degradation. Global warming, climate change and sea-level rise do indeed constitute some of the gravest threats facing the world today. We hope that the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will enter into force at an early date. However, the Kyoto Protocol is only a first step. It has to be followed by more vigorous global measures to save our endangered planet. We believe that a genuine worldwide partnership is essential to prevent a man-made ecological disaster.
Closer international collaboration is also needed to address the developmental challenges facing many countries. Greater attention must be paid to make globalisation more equitable, and meaningful to the many disadvantaged countries that are compelled to be responsive to such global economic regimes.
Mr. Prime Minister:
May I conclude by wishing good health to Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and to you, Mr. Prime Minister, and to Madam Wickremesinghe.
We wish peace, progress and prosperity for the people of Sri Lanka, and look forward to continued friendship and close co-operation between our two countries and peoples.
Thank you.