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Wellington, September 16, 2016
Prime Minister John Key has today announced Sri Lanka Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, will visit New Zealand from 1-3 October.
“I am very pleased to welcome Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to New Zealand,” Mr Key says.
“This will be the first time a Sri Lankan Prime Minister has undertaken a bilateral visit to New Zealand, and is an important step in the growing relationship between our two countries.
“When I visited Sri Lanka in February, I was struck by the range of exciting opportunities for New Zealand, and an increasing number of New Zealand businesses are recognising this potential.
“Under Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s leadership, Sri Lanka has entered a new phase in its post-civil war development. New Zealand is keen to support the important steps the country is making towards reconciliation and rebuilding through increased political and economic contact.”
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will be accompanied by his wife, Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe, four Sri Lankan Ministers, and a Sri Lankan business and media delegation.
Mr Wickremesinghe and his delegation will be formally welcomed in a ceremony at Government House in Auckland on 1 October, followed by bilateral talks.
They will also attend a range of official, business and community events in Auckland, Waikato and Wellington.
Photo Caption: Ranil Wickramasinghe (left) with his lifelong friend Wenceslaus Anthony during his visit to Auckland on May 30, 2012.
