MALACAÑAN — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte welcomed Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena as he was received at the Palace’s Kalayaan grounds on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 16.
The Sri Lankan leader, who is in the Philippines for a five-day state visit, was accorded with military honors and was welcomed with a 21-gun salute.
Grade three and four students from Gen. Licerio Geronimo Elementary School, Trinidad Tecson Elementary School, and Moises Salvador Elementary School in Manila were also present in welcoming the Sri Lankan President.
The two leaders briefly watched various performances by Filipino cultural dancers and musicians before they proceeded to the Palace.
At the Reception Hall, President Sirisena signed the official guest book where he wrote: “This historic state visit would lead to stronger bonds of friendship, enhance mutual understanding and reinvigorate cooperation for the benefit of our two peoples.”
President Sirisena arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday evening, and he will be in the country from January 15 to 19.
Part of Sirisena’s itinerary is a visit to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Sri Lanka has been established since 1961.
