Excellency, you visit us at an important period in our national life. After eliminating terrorism, today our nation stands undivided under one flag, committed to sustainable recovery from three decades of conflict, accompanied by the further strengthening of national amity, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his speech at the banquet hosted in honour of President Truong Tan Sang at the Janadhipathi Mandiraya in Colombo last night (September 14).

"The people of Sri Lanka were firmly behind and supportive of the national liberation struggle of the people of Vietnam. Sri Lanka has always drawn inspiration from Vietnam in your efforts in defending national independence and achieving national re-unification. The common heritage of Buddhism, the shared experiences of colonialism, the struggle for independence and the more recent advances in bilateral co-operation in a variety of areas have drawn our people together," President Rajapaksa added.

Full text of the speech:

Your Excellency President Truong Tan Sang,
Madam Mai Thi Hanh,
Honourable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that we receive Your Excellency Truong Tan Sang and Madam Mai Thi Hanh and your delegation. We feel greatly privileged to have you amongst us today. Allow me, at the outset, to felicitate you on your assumption of the highest office. Your Excellency’s visit is the first ever State Visit from Vietnam to our country.

Our two countries enjoy deep bonds of friendship and goodwill re-inforced by shared values and historical experiences. There are records of revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Sri Lanka in the 1940’s, which is a testimony of our unique relationship that has stood the test of time.

Your presence here today is symbolic of the spirit of solidarity and principles of Non Alignment that we stand for. I wish to recall the Non – Aligned Summit held in Colombo in 1976. The Summit Conference acclaimed the birth of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike, then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka together with your Prime Minister Pham Van Dong represented our people in their struggle for freedom against colonial domination. The quest for freedom brought our nations close to each other.

The people of Sri Lanka were firmly behind and supportive of the national liberation struggle of the people of Vietnam. Sri Lanka has always drawn inspiration from Vietnam in your efforts in defending national independence and achieving national re-unification. The common heritage of Buddhism, the shared experiences of colonialism, the struggle for independence and the more recent advances in bilateral co-operation in a variety of areas have drawn our people together.

It is important to emphasize that both our countries are heirs to a rich and vibrant culture which has the potential to make a contribution of unique value to international affairs at this time.

It is a source of great pride and satisfaction that Sri Lanka was among the first in South Asia to establish diplomatic relations with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the early Seventies. Our bonds have further strengthened with the re-opening of the Vietnam Embassy in Colombo this year.

Excellency, you visit us at an important period in our national life. After eliminating terrorism, today our nation stands undivided under one flag, committed to sustainable recovery from three decades of conflict, accompanied by the further strengthening of national amity.

My visit in 2009 to Vietnam ushered in an era of renewed engagement between our two countries. My stay in your beautiful city of Hanoi, which celebrated its one thousandth (1000th) year of existence in 2010, is very much etched in my memory. That visit opened new vistas in further harnessing the enormous potential available for consolidating the bilateral partnership.

Much has happened since then. Our engagements have been productive. On the security and defence front we have agreed to work with each other for eradicating the common menace of terrorism.

Today, Vietnam has emerged as a vibrant nation. The economy of Vietnam has registered sustained growth. It is a matter of deep satisfaction to us to rejoice in the achievements of your country in the economic sphere and to acknowledge Vietnam’s full market economy status.

Sri Lanka is also recording a rapid growth in her economy with a growth of over 8 per cent. Our rapid development has created exciting opportunities not only for our citizens, but also for co-operation and collaboration with others.

Our bilateral co-operation has emerged as a multi-faceted partnership in a range of mutually beneficial areas. We are pleased that during your current visit, our two countries have signed a range of new MOUs that will further consolidate our ties in these areas and indeed, take it to a new level. We in Sri Lanka have a lot to learn from your people and a lot to share with your country.

I consider it particularly important to strengthen our bilateral economic partnership. It is important to work together to devise innovative ways to harness the true potentials of our bilateral trade relations. Therefore, I welcome your decision to bring with you a business delegation and address our apex Chambers of Commerce and Industry. In this context, we welcome the Vietnam business community to explore vast opportunities available in Sri Lanka and wish to promote more joint ventures with Vietnam companies. It is also encouraging to observe that some of our companies have looked towards Vietnam as an investment destination.

We must also accelerate signing of the Air Service Agreement which will pave the way for enhanced connectivity between our two nations.

Excellency, there is ample scope to further enhance the cultural connectivity between our two peoples. We need to create a better awareness at the people to people level, of the similarities, connections and cultural ties we share. These links contribute to a special bond between us.

Sri Lanka has keenly observed the pro-active role Vietnam has played in both the regional and multi-lateral fora in recent years. Given the close synergy of views, Sri Lanka and Vietnam would continue to work together in close co-operation on issues of mutual interest. Your firm solidarity with our country in multi-lateral fora is much valued.

Before I conclude, allow me to re-iterate our strong and unqualified commitment to abiding friendship with Vietnam.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I request you to join me in a toast:

- to the good health and personal well being of His Excellency Truong Tan Sang and Madam Mai Thi Hanh

- to the progress, prosperity and well-being of the people of Vietnam; and,

- to the growing co-operation and friendship between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.