3 August 2019 12:20 am
During its national day celebrations in Colombo, Egypt expresses its firm solidarity with the Sri Lankan Government and its people.
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Colombo recently commemorated the 67th anniversary of the ‘Egyptian Revolution’ of July 23 in a reception hosted by Ambassador Hussein El-Saharty in Colombo.
The event was attended by several dignitaries including Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, former President and opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, Lands and Parliamentary Reforms Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka as the Chief Guest, Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga and Ambassador Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha.
In his speech, Ambassador El-Saharty stressed the firm support and solidarity of the government and people of Egypt with Sri Lanka in combating extremism and terrorism, noting that immediately after the heinous Easter Sunday bombings in last April, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, joined by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox and Catholic Churches, the Grand Mufti and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, have all expressed their condemnation in the strongest terms of those bloody acts, extended sincere condolences to the families of victims and offered unconditional support to Sri Lanka in its efforts to eradicate terrorism.
Egypt was the first African, Arab and Middle Eastern country to establish official diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka in 1957. Today, both countries are bound by more than twenty bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding covering the fields of trade, investment, culture, arts, education, civil aviation, political consultation and security
Being the first country to hold its national day commemorative event at the iconic Shangri-La Hotel after it suffered one of the cowardly Easter Sunday attacks, Ambassador El-Saharty explained that this was a symbol and a witness to the combined efforts and will of our nations to stand firm in the face of terrorism.
Chief Guest Gayantha Karunathilaka conveyed greetings of President Maithripala Sirisena, the government and people of Sri Lanka to President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, stating with satisfaction that trade between Sri Lanka and Egypt had shown an increase of 244% from 2002 to 2017, and expressing gratitude to the Egyptian Government for its continued cooperation with Sri Lanka in various fields, highlighting in particular the benefits of the scholarships offered to Sri Lankan students for regular courses conducted by the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture.
Egypt was the first African, Arab and Middle Eastern country to establish official diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka in 1957. Today, both countries are bound by more than twenty bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding covering the fields of trade, investment, culture, arts, education, civil aviation, political consultation and security. Egypt has always been one of the main markets for Sri Lankan tea and spices, and Sri Lanka is becoming a growing market for various Egyptian products. Mutual investments and tourism are also on the rise.