“Today we live in a world full of serious challenges. Many of these affect our countries in varying levels. But I feel the need to especially underline one of them, since it consumes innocent lives, causing enormous damage in Turkey and Sri Lanka. That is terrorism.

Turkey and Sri Lanka are two countries that suffered greatly from terrorism. Turkey is against any kind of terrorist act, whatever the reason is. We believe that no terrorist action can be justified on any grounds. We attach utmost importance to bilateral and multilateral cooperation in dealing with this threat,” said Turkish President Abdullah Gul in his speech at the banquet hosted in honour of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Palace in Ankara last night (December 02).

In his response President Mahinda Rajapaksa said: “Sri Lanka and Turkey share similarities in values, ideals and concerns. We both have demonstrated a great degree of consistency in defending and upholding the democratic rights of our people… We have very well understood each others concerns. In this context let me place on record that Sri Lanka has and will always appreciate, the solidarity shown by Turkey in Sri Lanka’s fight against the menace of terrorism. This close affinity has been a telling feature in our bilateral relations, considering the threat by terrorism posed to Turkey.”