President Mohamed Nasheed and First Lady Laila Ali yesterday attended the reception hosted by High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Maldives Mr Dickson Sarathchandra Dela on the occasion of 63rd anniversary of Sri Lanka´s independence.
Speaking at the reception held at Traders Hotel Malé last evening, the President conveyed greetings of Sri Lankan Independence Day to the people of Sri Lanka.
Earlier, President Nasheed, in a message to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, sent greetings to the Sri Lankan President, the government and the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of Sri Lanka´s Independence Day.
In his remarks, the President underscored the long and close relationship that exist between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, stating that Sri Lanka was one of the biggest trading partners of the Maldives.
Therefore, the President said a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka was in the benefit of both countries.
He said, after the end of its long civil war, Sri Lanka has ¨taken its development goals very seriously.¨
¨I am sure that the good people of Sri Lanka, under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapasa, will fourish,¨ the President added.
Sri Lanka gained independence on 4 February 1948.