MR holds bilateral discussions at UN headquarters

President Mahinda Rajapaksa held several bilateral discussions this afternoon at United Nations Headquarters on the sidelines of the U.N. Climate Summit 2014, the presidential media unit said.

The President met with Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón and Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.

President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Koirala discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest, including the upcoming SAARC Summit. The 18th SAARC Summit will take place in Kathmandu in November of this year, and President Rajapaksa is expected to attend.

During discussions with Colombian President Calderón, President Rajapaksa discussed further strengthening relations with the South American country. Earlier this month, in Colombo, Colombian

Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mrs. Monica Lanzetta Mutis presented her credential to President Rajapaksa.

Secretary-General Sharma discussed ongoing Commonwealth matters with the President, including the meetings later this week to discuss reforms pertaining to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Also present during the bilateral talks were the following: Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy Mr. Susil Premajayantha, Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Dr. Palitha Kohona, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, Sri Lankan High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Dr. Chris Nonis and the Deputy Permanent Representative Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva.