Vanuatu seeks Sri Lanka’s help to host CHOGM 2017

Monday, 18 November 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President of Vanuatu Moana Carcasses Kalosil sought Sri Lanka’s support to organise CHOGM 2017, which the Pacific Island will be hosting when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Waters Edge on Saturday afternoon. The Vanuatu President was in Colombo attending CHOGM 2013.

Congratulating President Rajapaksa for organising the current CHOGM so well, the Vanuatu President requested Sri Lanka to share its rich experience with his country to successfully organise the meeting in 2017. President Rajapaksa in response said that he is ready to help Vanuatu by way of sharing experience in organising the flagship event of the Commonwealth. The President briefed him of the progress the country has made since the end of the conflict four years ago. “It feels like home,” Kalosil said while describing Sri Lanka’s people as hospitable, friendly and smiling like his own people. Vanuatu has been twice rated as the world’s “happiest nation”. President Kalosil said he was happy to see that Sri Lanka is on forward march after 30 years of misery. “We admire your leadership in guiding your country to prosperity. We assure you our full support,” he said. A high-level delegation including Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Edward Natapei accompanied the Vanuatu President. Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Monitoring MP to the Ministry of External Affairs Sajin de Vaas Gunwardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Karunatilleke Amunugama and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Australia Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe were also present at the discussion.