Palestinian Minister of Religious Affairs Dr. Mahmoud Al-Habbash called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (10) at Temple Trees. One of the main topics discussed during the meeting was the importance of religious tolerance.

Speaking about his first visit to the island, Dr. Al-Habbash said Sri Lanka is a “very fantastic country with very great people.”

President Rajapaksa and Palestinian Minister also talked about Palestinian politics and the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Dr. Al-Habbash thanked President Rajapaksa for Sri Lanka’s support to Palestine during the U.N. General Assembly vote last year on the resolution to grant “non-member observer state” status to Palestine. Sri Lanka was among the 138 countries that voted in favor of the resolution.

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Habbash informed President Rajapaksa that he had met with the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama and advised the organization on the importance of maintaining dignity and harmony between all communities.

The Palestinian delegation that also included Director General of the Minister of Religious Affairs Mr. Taisir Rajabi and Director General of International Relations at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Mr. Motasem Daqa, along with the Palestinian Ambassador in Sri Lanka Dr. Anwar Al-Agha, has also visited the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple and is scheduled to meet with the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith as well.

Before the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Al-Habbash conveyed the greetings of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and repeated an invitation for President Rajapaksa to visit Palestine.