In another major step toward fulfilling the vision of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to forge links with countries in all parts of the globe, Hon. Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, representing Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, and Hon. Ghanim bin Fadhl Al Buainain, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, ceremonially opened the newly established Embassy of Sri Lanka in Manama, Bahrain in the presence of Bahraini dignitaries, including members of the Bahraini Parliament, senior officials of the Bahraini Foreign Ministry, as well as a large number of the vibrant Sri Lankan community residing in the Kingdom.
The opening ceremony included the hoisting of the National Flag, singing of the National Anthem, the lighting of the Traditional Oil Lamp by the two Ministers, local dignitaries as well as representatives of the Sri Lankan community, religious observances conducted by Ven. Meegoda Sukitha Thero, Swami V. Parameshvaran, Qari Shaikh Ziyard and Rev. Fr. Joy Menacherry, followed by traditional dances performed by Sri Lankan children in Bahrain.
Hon. Neomal Perera in his remarks stated that Sri Lanka is keen to develop economic, cultural, trade and tourism ties between the two countries, along with new areas of co-operation, and serve the growing Sri Lankan community in Bahrain through the newly established Sri Lanka Embassy in Manama. He also stated that the opening of the new Mission in Bahrain is an important step not only in the context of Sri Lanka’s bilateral relationship with Bahrain but also in the broader objective of Sri Lanka’s closer collaboration and solidarity with the Arab world. Hon. Ghanim bin Al-Buainain, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain in his remarks welcomed the opening of the Sri Lanka Mission and highlighted Bahrain’s desire to develop closer links with Sri Lanka. He also promised to extend the support of the government of Bahrain to the new Ambassador in strengthening the bilateral relationship in the areas of economic, trade, investment tourism and culture.
Following the opening ceremony, the Deputy Minister also inaugurated officially the Consular Section of the new Mission by handing over a birth certificate to a child born in Bahrain.
The opening of the new Mission marks an important milestone in the Sri Lanka-Bahrain bilateral relationship. There was a high degree of enthusiasm on the part of the Sri Lankan community in Bahrain to witness an Embassy of their own established in Bahrain. The opening of this Mission was made possible following a directive of His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka to set up a fully fledged Mission to look after the welfare of Sri Lankans as well to promote Sri Lanka’s interests in the areas of economic, trade, culture and tourism.
Ambassador R.K.M.A. Rajakaruna presented his Credentials to His Majesty Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the King of Bahrain on the 19th of February 2013 as the First Resident Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
During his visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Hon. Neomal Perera also met with Dr Essam Fakhro, Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and several other economic leaders and requested them to field a business delegation to the Commonwealth Business Forum to be held in Colombo, November this year.
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bahrain
31st May 2013
