Further strengthening Palestine Sri Lanka relations, for the first time, a sports team from Palestine is in Sri Lanka in March.
A 38 member group including an under 14 Palestine Girls National Football Team, coaches and referees is now in Sri Lanka to participate in the South and Central Asia Football Festival organized by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka
Other countries participating in the festival would be Bhutan, India, Iran, Jordan and Sri Lanka.
Dr. T. Jayasinghe, Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Palestine met the leaders of the Palestine Football Association along with the Team Manager Ms. Ruquia Takrouri, Technical Director Dr. Mazen Khatib and a few members of the team at his residence before their departure to Sri Lanka and briefed about the long standing relationship between Sri Lanka and Palestine and the present situation in Sri Lanka. Dr. Jayasinghe also stated that this will be a trailblazer visit and there will be more visits in the future.
The team members stated that this visit being a unique experience they are looking forward to visit Sri Lanka to gain experience, see the country, meet the people and also to meet H.E. the President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is known in Palestine as a close friend of that country.
Team Manager Ms. Ruquia Takrouri says that if they get more opportunities of this nature her members can reach international standards very easily as all members are young, devoted and energetic. They were extremely grateful to the Football Federation of Sri Lanka for extending this invitation.
Representative Office of Sri Lanka
Palestinian National Authority
07.03.2011
