New York, NY - Sunday 21, - 08 - President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the John F Kennedy Airport, New York, by a scheduled flight yesterday.

The President who is due to participate in and address the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly was met on arrival at the airport by representatives of United Nations Protocol, and later at the Hotel by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington Mr. Jaliya Wickramasuriya, the Permanent Representative for Sri Lanka in the UN Mr. H.M. G. S. Palihakkara, and the staff of the New York Mission.

At the entrance to the hotel he was garlanded by four Sri Lankan children from New York.

The first official function of the President is a visit to the New York Buddhist Vihara, later yesterday.