The Bahraini Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa has announced a cash donation of US$ 1 million to Sri Lanka to be utilized for the resettlement and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North.  The donation together with a letter from Bahrain Prime Minister to President Mahinda Rajapaksa were handed over by the Bahraini Ambassador Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa to the Sri Lankan Ambassador Sarath Dissanayake at the Bahrain Embassy in Kuwait on 16^th August.

Accepting the donation, Ambassador Dissanayake, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka expressed his appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, the Prime Minister and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain for this goodwill gesture which signifies the deep rooted friendship between the two countries.

In the letter, His Highness the Bahraini Prime Minister has expressed his appreciation to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the warm reception and generous hospitality extended to him and his delegation during his visit to Sri Lanka from 28 – 30 July.  This donation is a personal contribution by the Prime Minister of Bahrain which reflects his deep concern and care for the wellbeing of the IDPs in Sri Lanka.  It may be recalled that during official talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Bahraini Prime Minister extolled President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s courageous leadership and pledged to support  his efforts to usher in a new era of lasting peace and prosperity for all Sri Lankans and to rebuild Sri Lanka’s North.

On the occasion, Mr. Sunil Premaratne, First Secretary from Sri Lanka Embassy in Kuwait and Mr. Isa Ibrahim Ali Al-Thawadi, First Secretary from Bahrain Embassy were also present.

It should also be noted that the Bahraini Prime Minister has recently donated a consignment of dates to be distributed among the Islamic devotees during the Ramadan Fasting season.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Colombo  

18 August 2009