Published on - 8/1/2002
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan and Mrs Sehba Musharraf, hailed as \"friends in need and friends indeed\" by local media, accompanied by a top-level delegation arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday (31) on a two-day official visit.
President Musharraf and his entourage was warmly received on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe, Prime Minister and Mrs Maithri Wickremasinghe. Sri Lankan Prime Minister presented his government's delegation to the visiting Pakistani dignitary and the vice versa before the visitors were escorted to the special enclosure.
Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lt. Gen. L. P Balagalle RWP RSP VSV USP ndc IG after greeting the visiting President then conducted the dignitaries to the Saluting Dais where the Pakistani President was accorded the Guard of Honour presented by the Army's Sri Lanka Armoured Corps. Following the Presidential Salute presented by the Army, the President received the 21 gun salute and then inspected the Guard of Honour. After presenting the Second Presidential Salute, National Anthems of Pakistan and Sri Lanka were played by the Sri Lanka Army.
Before the delegation left the airport, Pakistan president and Madame Sheba Musharraf placed their signatures on the golden book.
A tight security blanket in and around Colombo, was enforced by the sir Lanka army and the police during his stay in Sri Lanka.
President Musharraf met Premier Ranil Wickremasinghe and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge during his stay in Colombo.
Pakistan\'s Defence Secretary Lt. Gen. Hamid Nawaz, who was among the delegation met Sri Lanka's Defence Minister Tilak Marapana and Defence Secretary Austin Fernando on Thursday morning.
