Sri Lanka President leaves for Maldives

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 February 2007, 12:26 GMT]
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse left Sunday morning on a three-day official visit to Maldives amid speculation that he would appoint new ministers to fill the vacancies created by the sacking of Anura Bandaranaike, Mangala Samaraweera, Susil Premayanthand Sripathi Sooriyarachchi on his return, sources said.

Rohitha Bogollagama, Foreign Minister, and ministers G.L.Peiris, Milinda Morogoda, Sarath Amunugama and Felix Perera accompanied him.

Mr. Rajapakse is expected to sign several bilateral agreements with Maldives in the spheres of education, cultural affairs and economic development, sources said.

This is Mr. Rajapakse first visit to Maldives since assuming Presidency, sources said.