Increased welfare for Lankans in the Philippines: President

Saturday, 19 January 2019 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena says that he will take the necessary future steps to increase the welfare of Sri Lankans living in the Philippines while resolving their issues, with the assistance of further strengthened Sri Lanka-Philippines relations as a result of his State visit to the Philippines.

The President, who is on a State visit to the Philippines at the invitation of the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, made these remarks during a meeting held with the Sri Lankan community living there, in Manila, on Thursday.

A group of people, including students receiving higher education, professionals and persons who are engaged in different fields participated at this meeting and their issues were presented to the President during this event.

President Sirisena advised the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Philippines to discuss all the problems like issues of students of higher education and issues related to visas presented by Sri Lankans living in the Philippines and take every possible step to resolve the problems.

The President expressed appreciation over the progress made by the Philippines in economic development and the material resource progress. He praised the Philippines President’s and the Government’s commitment to the effort against illicit drug trafficking in the Philippines.

The President also briefed the Sri Lankans living in the Philippines about the extensive programs to prevent the illicit drug trafficking in Sri Lanka. The President further stated that plans have been made to implement a special program from mid-January this year to strengthen this drive.

The President also briefed them about the decisions taken to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries during his visit to the Philippines and assured that highest level of commitment would be made in the future for this endeavour.