SJB and SLPP MPs accompanying president to Australia

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken SJB Anuradhapura District MP Ishak Rahuman and SLPP Puttalam District MP Amal Chinthaka Mayadunna along with him when left the country on Thursday (8) to participate in the seventh Indian Ocean Conference being held in Perth, Australia.

Accepting an invitation from the India Foundation and the Australian Government, the President participated in the seventh Indian Ocean Summit between Feb 9 and 10 in Perth.

UNP General Secretary former MP Palitha Range Bandara said that President had taken several SJB MPs with him on foreign tours during the recent past and almost all of them switched their party allegiance to support the President thereafter.

He said that President took SJB Polnnaruwa District MP Kings Nelson to Uganda, Badulla District MP Vadivel Suresh to the US and Gampaha District MP Ajith Mannapperuma to Cuba, President Wickramasinghe is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at this year’s conference under the theme “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean”.

This year’s conference will also prepare a road map with the participation of key stakeholders from 40 countries with the aim of developing cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.Along with the summit, the President is also scheduled to attend several high-level discussions focusing on new investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.