President Visit to Ukraine
President of Sri Lanka H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa visit to Ukraine
29th June – 03rd July, 2010
| We all need to learn the main lesson of his difficult and arduous journey of service to the nation – the power of the people in its unity! Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to the people of his national pride, and now all Sri Lankans can say “We one People, one Nation!” | ||
| The visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Ukraine concluded from 29th June to 03rd July, 2010. That this visit was the first by a Sri Lankan Head of State while also being the second visit by a world leader to Ukraine since the inauguration of Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovich should easily explain the significance of the visit to both Sri Lanka and Ukraine. Keeping in line with the new foreign policy of Sri Lanka, the official delegation led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris held detailed bilateral talks with Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovich. | ||
| Visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Holodomor Memorial. | ||
| Morning 30th June the President of Sri Lanka visited the Park of Glory and laied a wreath on a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Thenvisited the Holodomor Memorial. | ||
| Meeting with the President of Ukraine H.E. Viktor Yanukovich. | ||
| At 10 am 30th June 2010 there were an official meeting of the president of Sri Lanka H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa and the President of Ukraine H.E. Viktor Yanukovich. During the bilateral talks agreement was reached especially on Ukraine’s support to develop the areas which were affected by the LTTE terrorism during the last few decades and for oil exploration in Sri Lanka. Further President Rajapaksa was successful in arriving at an agreement with President Viktor Yanukovich for obtaining Ukraine’s assistance in building Hydro Electric Power Stations in Sri Lanka. Details of the new facilities and opportunities available for Sri Lankan students to study in Ukraine were provided by the Ukraine government and we were informed that for the first time Scholarships could be offered for Sri Lankan students to study at medical schools in Ukraine. During these discussions agreement was also reached to assist in repairing aviation and military equipments of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and to provide training opportunities for military officials of Sri Lanka in Ukraine. Several bilateral Agreements were signed between Sri Lanka and Ukraine during the visit. The Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Tourism. The Agreement in the Field of Military and Technical Cooperation and the Agreement on Mutual Protection of Classified Information. Both presidents while appreciating the rapid increase in the percentage of Ukraine tourists’ arrival in Sri Lanka stressed the importance of promoting in our countries the cultural aspects of Ukraine and Sri Lanka during the years 2011/2012. Further, it was discussed for a special delegation to visit Sri Lanka in the near future to study new projects in the Tourism industry in Sri Lanka and to initiate flights between Kiev, the capital of Ukraine and Colombo. President Yanukovich gave immediate instructions to the Minister of Transport of Ukraine to take necessary steps towards this process. I believe that the Air flights between Sri Lanka and Ukraine will commence in the very near future in fulfillment of these discussions. Ukraine expressed interest to provide troller boats and deep freezers that are necessary to increase the productivity of Sri Lanka’s fisheries industry while it was agreed between the parties to further develop the economic relations between Sri Lanka and Ukraine. As a result, an Agreement is expected to be signed between our countries on Maritime Merchant Shipping in the near future. |
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| Sri Lanka Ukraine Business Forum. | ||
| An important event of the visit of President Rajapaksa to Ukraine was the Sri Lanka Ukraine Business Forum on 30th of June. This event which was successfully held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Yanukovich as chief guests was organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation. Sri Lanka was represented at this event by Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Tea Board, and Export Development Board of Sri Lanka while leading businessmen of Sri Lanka and representatives of leading Ukraine businesses participated. Sri Lanka Tea enjoys a big market in Ukraine. President Rajapaksa, in addressing the audience at the Business Forum extended a special invitation to the Ukrainian Businessmen and industrialists to invest in Sri Lanka and spoke at length on the various facilities already available and that would be available for such investments. While speaking of the vision for the development of Sri Lanka’s future as well as strengthening Sri Lanka economically as a result of the realization of the expectation for developing a national economy capable of ensuring social justice and human development, President Rajapaksa explained that Sri Lanka’s ability to achieve the current 7% economic growth was also due to these economic policies of the government of Sri Lanka. While mentioning that Sri Lanka was strategically positioned in a very important location on the world map, as in the case of Ukraine between Europe and the Russian Federation, President Rajapaksa said that there would be more opportunities for joint projects where both parties could work together in the development of economic and commercial relations between our countries. President Rajapaksa invited the Ukraine business community to visit Sri Lanka in the near future as Sri Lanka is regarded at present to be among the best countries for investment in the world. |
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| Visit to the National Defence University of Ukraine. | ||
| During the visit a Special Ceremony to receive President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been organized by the National Defence University of Ukraine with the assistance of the Ukraine Ministry of Defence on 01st of July. This event saw the participation of over 725 High level Military personnel of Ukraine including the Minister of Defence of Ukraine and Heads of Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the event, President Rajapaksa delivered a special address on the strategies of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and the Humanitarian operation in eliminating the LTTE terrorism from Sri Lanka. The President also took the opportunity to thank the Ukraine Government for the cooperation extended to the Sri Lanka Armed Forces in safeguarding the innocent civilians from the atrocities of the LTTE terrorists. President Rajapaksa further said that the experience of Sri Lanka in defeating terrorism was an example to other countries faced with challenges posed by terrorism. He attributed the reasons for the victory to the great humanism displayed by the country’s security forces. President Rajapaksa also expressed his gratitude to the Ukrainian Government for the assistance extended to his country’s fight against terrorism. | ||
| Meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Honorable Mr. Mikola Azarov. | ||
| President Rajapaksa had the opportunity to meet Mykola Azarov, the Prime Minister of Ukraine during the visit on 01st of July. Ukraine has expressed interest to extend space technology to Sri Lanka, during that meeting. The Prime Minister stated that at present, Ukraine has a space technology exchange programme with Brazil and in the future Sri Lanka too will be involved. President Rajapaksa pointed out that Sri Lanka has a high level of knowledge in Information Technology and with the acquisition of space technology, it would be further enhanced. In addition, President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Azarov discussed on business visits to both countries in the future and exchange of scholarship programmes which would further enhance relations. President Rajapaksa during his meeting with Prime Minister Azarov thanked the latter for his successful visit to Ukraine. While speaking of the beauty of Ukraine President Rajapaksa said that Kiev is a city within a garden. He expressed appreciation to the Ukraine President for providing an opportunity to visit a city of such beauty. | ||
| Cultural «Show Sri Lanka». | ||
| A special Cultural Show by the Cultural Troup of the Si Lanka Air Force was held on the sidelines of this visit. This Cultural Show which included a variety of Sri Lankan dance performances saw the participation of large numbers of Ukrainians and was well received by many who commented on their deep impressions of the performances. “Ukraine Dom”, the theater where the Cultural Show was performed, was the venue where President Viktor Yanukovich held his first Reception after been inaugurated as the President of Ukraine. | ||
| Visit to Antonov Aeronautical Scientific/Technical Complex. | ||
| Reception at the «Intercontinental». | ||
| Reception was held at the Hotel “Intercontinental” on 02nd July. President of Sri Lanka H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa and hte First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa partisipated the event. ”Award of Excellence” was presented to some companies of Ukraine: - Bilateral relationship: 3 Territorial Department of the MFA of Ukraine. - Tea Sector: Hyson (Asha Group), Jaf Tea (Ecology & Health Company), Hyleys (Petron Ltd), Akbar (Kordex Company), Ahmad Tea (Piramida Company) , Batik Tea (Solomia Company). - Technical Cooperation: Lviv State Aircraft Repar Plant, UKRINMASH, Konotop State Aircraft Repar Plant. - Tourism: Air Arabia. - Education: Lugansk State Medical Univercity. |
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