Myanmar leader General Than Shwe arrives on official tour

Myanmar’s top leader and Head of State, Senior-General Than Shwe arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake on Thursday morning. He was received on arrival by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, ministers and high officials.

The four-day Colombo visit of Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, is a reciprocal one to Nay Pyi Taw by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in June this year.

He was accorded a red carpet welcome and a guard of honor by the armed forces on arrival. Senior General Than Shwe is here on the invitation of President Rajapaksa, a reciprocal visit after Sri Lanka President’s visit to Myanmar in June this year.

It is also the first visit by a Myanmar Head of State to Sri Lanka after five decades.

Sri Lanka and Myanmar share historic, religious and cultural ties. President Shwe during his three day visit will visit hallowed Buddhist places of worship like the Dalada Maligawa Kandy, Anuradhapura historic shrines and the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, sources said.

During his June Myanmar visit, Rajapaksa met with Than Shwe and had talks with Prime Minister General Thein Sein on promotion of cooperation in the two countries' bilateral ties, religious affairs, trade, economy, education, agriculture, forestry, hotels and tourism and transport as well as regional cooperation and mutual cooperation in international arena.

On that occasion, Myanmar and Sri Lanka signed an agreement on mutual exemption of visas for diplomatic passport and service passport holders of the two countries and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in tourism.

Senior-General Than Shwe’s visit symbolizes the goodwill and unbroken friendly relations between the two countries. The most significant purpose of this visit for the President of Myanmar and his delegation is to pay homage to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. He will offer a Buddha Pooja and an alms giving for 50 monks both from Malwatte and Asigiri Chapters on 13 November 2009.

During the visit, a MoU is expected to be signed between the Shwedagon Temple of Myanmar and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

- Asian Tribune -