President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at Kiev-Borispol International Airport on an official visit to Ukraine yesterday evening (29 June).

Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko and the Deputy Mayor of Kiev, Alexcender Popov welcomed the President and First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa at the Airport.

Three Ukrainian girls presented bread and salt to the President to traditionally welcome him to the country while two Ukrainian boys presented flowers to the First Lady.

President Rajapaksa is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the President, Prime Minister and other senior government officials of Ukraine during his visit. Sri Lanka and Ukraine will sign four bilateral cooperation agreements on military technology, security, tourism, navigation and transport. A Sri Lanka-Ukraine Business Forum has also been organized parallel to the President’s visit which is expected to strengthen cooperation in trade and economic sectors between the two countries.

President Rajapaksa is scheduled to visit the Parliament of Ukraine and also address the National Defence University of Ukraine.

Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister, Prof. G. L. Peiris, Parliamentarian, Sajin De Vas Gunawardane, President’s Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, President’s Chief Of Staff, Gamini Senarath included the Sri Lankan delegation.