President to Lankan expats:

Time to think of one’s obligations and country

President Mahinda Rajapaksa Monday met Sri Lankan expatriate workers in Qatar. Ministers Prof G. L. Peiris, A. H. M. Fowzie, Rishad Badiudeen, Rauff Hakeem, Faizer Mustapha, Parliamentarians A. H. M. Azwer, Sajin Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Sri Lankan ambassador in Qatar Jayantha Palipana were present. Picture by Sudath Silva

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said his desire is to bequeath to future generations of Sri Lankans a country where they can live in peace, unity and dignity.

‘The time has now come for everyone to think of one’s obligation, duty and service towards the country as regards its development effort’.

The President expressed these sentiments when he met a group of Sri Lankan expatriate workers in Qatar during his state visit to Qatar, on Monday afternoon. President Rajapaksa said the total number of Sri Lankans employed in Qatar is nearly 150,000.

Their capabilities and dedication to work has been highly acclaimed by the government of Qatar.

State authorities of Qatar led by the Emir of Qatar during their discussions with him said that they received a high quality and disciplined service from the Sri Lankans and they highly appreciated it.

The dedicated service rendered by Sri Lankan expatriate workers had helped to forge closer links between the two countries. A communique issued by the President’s Media Division said the President met and personally interacted with all the Sri Lankan workers present and inquired after their well-being.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his delegation later visited ‘Qatar Diar’ company, a major construction company in Qatar on an inspection tour. The company management explained to the President and his delegation the massive development work handled by the company in Qatar in the past and the future projects planned by it. They said Qatar would be hosting the World Cup Football Tournament in 2022 and they had formulated a 10 year plan to make preparations for it.

The President also visited the Pearl Qatar company too on an inspection tour.