President Mahinda Rajapaksa starting a two day state visit to Bahrain arrived in the capital city of Manama this morning, the Presidential media said

Prime Minister of Bahrain H.R.H. Prince Khalifa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Kalifa and the Governor of Muharraq, Salman Bin Hindi warmly received President Rajapaksa at the airport.

The President will hold bilateral discussions with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, and the two countries are scheduled to sign several memorandums of understanding on a number of different sectors.

The President is being accompanied by a business delegation and will attend a meeting between Sri Lankan and Bahraini business communities. As is customary, President Rajapaksa will also meet with the Sri Lankan community in Bahrain before conclusion of the visit.

Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris, Deputy Minister of Labour and Labour Relations, Sarath Weerasekara and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga are accompanying the President.