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| Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Israeli President Shimon Peres (@PresRajapaksa) |
The Israeli president Shimon Peres has received Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa at his residence today, a day after Premier Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Rajapaksa.
Peres hailed the president as a "great leader" who has brought peace, reconciliation and restoration to his people “which is not a small achievement”, reported Colombo Gazette.
“You have come here as a leader with an impressive record. You have invested your heart and mind and days and nights in peace, and you are seeing the fruits. You have come to a region still in search of peace and reconciliation. Israel is determined to make peace,” Peres said.
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| Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu (defence.lk) |
Peres also referred to the changing relationship between Sri Lanka and Israel, saying that the relationship had its up and downs but it was better to forget the downs and remember the ups, Colombo gazette further reported.
Rajapaksa also met with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Wednesday, with the leaders agreeing to expand bilateral relations in a number of sectors, including trade, agriculture and water.