Senior Advisor to H.E. the President of Sri Lanka, Basil Rajapaksa, MP is presently in Indonesia on a good will visit on the personal invitation extended by Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. He was accompanied by Mr. Dhammika Perera, Chairman, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.

After 27 years of blood, carnage and frequent disappointment, it was an unparalleled achievement. We did it convincingly and we did it substantially on our own, carefully and deliberately brushing aside the cards stacked against us. We may have ignored the script, but the finale was overwhelmingly convincing. A thousand years from now, bards will sing the praises of those whose valour and dedication made it possible. Our victory has generated much confidence in the country, as was demonstrated by the jubilation that swept the nation following the silencing of the guns, and the outpouring of support for the Government.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama was the Chief Guest at the International Conference on Trade Facilitation held today (26 June 2009) by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka with the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Minister Bogollagam in his remarks highlighted that the Sri Lanka Government, by defeating LTTE terrorism, has brought about an environment that is conducive for the greater growth of the economy. The Minister stressed that the private sector must now take advantage of the opportunities created in the post conflict scenario in Sri Lanka .

The importance of bilateral interests as opposed to multilateral compulsions in shaping relations between two countries was underscored by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama during his discussion today (25.06.2009) with Miklavz Borstnik, Charge d’ Affaires of Slovenia, who is on a two day visit to Sri Lanka coinciding with the National Day of Slovenia. The Minister observed that strong bonds of friendship within the international community would be sustainable when derived from bilateral ties. In this context he pointed out that Sri Lanka looked forward to further strengthening links between the two countries.

New target of 2.5 million tourists annually by 2016
2011 declared Visit Sri Lanka Year

This is a momentous phase for the Tourism Industry. With terrorism defeated after three decades, our people can now travel freely in our motherland. Tourists should have no fear to visit our attractions. And, I believe, we have ended the need for Travel Advisories that crippled Tourism, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an address to the launch of the new image of Sri Lanka Tourism.