Sri Lankan delegation meets Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar: A delegation from Sri Lanka consisting of about 30 officers from the information wing met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at lok Seva Bhawan here today.

The delegation includes Press Officers from the office of Sri Lanka Prime Minister, Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Government Information. They are on a five-day visit to Odisha to gain knowledge in communication management, especially during disasters, organization of international events on sports, investments, and communication on promotion of tourism, culture and heritage.

Interacting with the delegation, the CM said that both Sri Lanka and Odisha are united by a shared past.
He called upon them to work together for peace, friendship and progress, and be united for a bright future.
“Let’s learn from each other’s experiences, and create new opportunities for our people, the CM said, adding that together, we can build a shared future of growth and prosperity,” he said.
Welcoming the delegates, the CM asked them to convey his greetings to the Sri Lanka PM.
The CM said that our past is rooted not only in history but also in mythology. Our relationship is a true example of friendship, neighbourly goodwill and brotherhood, one that has stood strong for millennia, the CM said.

Citing examples from ancient Sri Lankan chronicle, The Mahavamsa, the CM said that Prince Vijaya, the first king and founder of the Sinhalese race, came from Kalinga. This makes us part of the same extended family, he underlined.
Recalling maritime heritage of both the lands, the CM said that in ancient times, Kalinga’s sailors travelled to Sri Lanka carrying rice, horses and elephants, while pearls and silver came here from the island.
Even today, Odisha celebrates this history through the Bali Jatra festival in Cuttack. Last year, we were very happy to have Sri Lankan envoys join the celebrations, the CM added.

The CM expressed hope that our cooperation can grow in many areas, -especially in tourism, culture, education, sports and industry. Odisha has become a hub for sports, investment and disaster management. Our disaster preparedness is regarded as among the best, and we have consistently saved countless lives during cyclones, he informed.

Delivering the welcome address, Information & PR Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma said that Odisha’s current size of economy is about 110 US Dollar, and we aim to achieve a 500-billion-dollar economy by 2036, when Odisha will celebrate 100 years as a linguistic state.
Odisha has been making significant progress on industrial front. Saying that there are huge scope in trade and industry, he said that we can have a meaningful dialogue in coming days for enhanced trade and cultural relations.

The Sri Lankan delegation will visit Odisha State Disaster Management Authority, Konark, Dhauli Peace Pagoda, Kalinga Stadium and Chilika Lake during this five-day stint.
Director of Information & Public Relations Department Anuj Das Patnaik proposed vote of thanks.