HIS EXCELLENCY, the President MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA’s return to Sri Lanka from G-11 Summit in Jordan this morning (17) to a rousing welcome, offered by National flag-waving Ministers, politicians and well-wishers at the airport would go down in the annals of the contemporary history of Sri Lanka, perhaps as the one and only people’s leader to have respectfully venerated the ‘Mother Earth’ no sooner than he stepped out of the aircraft staircase.
President RAJAPAKSA who is also the Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces was jubilant and confident as he was walking up to the crowd to be garlanded by well-wishers. Members of the Maha Sangha invoked blessings on the President before his entourage left the airport. His moving gesture of paying tribute to the ‘Mother Earth’ touched millions of Sri Lankans, remain glued to the televisions in order to learn updates on the conclusion of the world’s biggest rescue operation.
Meanwhile, President RAJAPAKSA is to ceremonially address the Nation from Parliament at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday (19th May).
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa seems all smiles as he receives a telephone call, presumably from his Defence Secretary and brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa delivering “good news,” during his visit to Jordan. The President cut short his visit and will be returning to the country today. |
(Photo Courtesy: SLRC and The Nation)
