Colombo,
11 November 2017
To mark the 49th Republic Day of Maldives a Flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Embassy of Maldives today. The ceremony was graced by Honourable Selvam Adaikalanathan, Member of Parliament for Vanni District and Deputy Chairman of Committees, Parliament of Sri Lanka as the Guest of Honour.
During the ceremony held this afternoon at the Maldives Embassy, the flag was hoisted by His Excellency Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Ambassador of Maldives to Sri Lanka and witnessed by Honourable Selvam Adaikalanathan, MP followed by the national anthem of Maldives.
After the flag hoisting, Ambassador Mohamed Hussain Shareef delivered his welcome remarks and conveyed sincere greetings and good wishes on the occasion to His Excellency President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and First Lady Madam Fathimath Ibrahim, Members of the Parliament and Cabinet, Government officials and to all the Maldivian residents living in Sri Lanka. In his remarks, Ambassador stressed on the strong bond of friendship that exists between the people of Maldives and the people of Sri Lanka and expressed his hope to further strengthen the close relationship between the two counties and to develop economic cooperation and work hand in hand for regional stability, peace and progress.
Guest of Honour, Honourable Selvam Adaikalanathan, MP also delivered his remarks and expressed warm gratitude to the Ambassador for inviting him as the Guest Honour to commemorate the occasion. Hon. Selvam also extended Republic Day greetings to the Government of Maldives and to the Ambassador, and reflected on the close relationship between both Sri Lanka and Maldives.
During the ceremony, the students of Maldivian Educational and Cultural Centre (MECC) also performed a cultural dance.
The ceremony was attended by the officials of the South Asia and SAARC Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, staff at the Embassy of Maldives and staff and Teachers at the Maldives Education and Cultural Centre.
ENDS