News
Spouses get a feel of the country as heads of government meet behind closed doors
At any international gathering, it is usually the spouses who get the opportunity to explore the host country and it was the same at this week’s Commonwealth Forum. Spouses of heads of governments and foreign ministers were able to travel to a number of places of interest in Colombo and Kandy.
Visiting the Gangaramaya temple and the Carlton Pre School (below) in Maligawatte. Pix by Hasitha Kulasekera
On Wednesday the wives of foreign ministers visited the Gangaramaya Temple and after lunch the National Museum, and onto a leading handicraft shop Laksala–that was bedecked in all its traditional glory. However, there was disappointment all round as very little business transactions took place in spite of high expectations that with foreign delegates in town there would be a demand for souvenirs. It was then off to the recently opened museum gallery caffe for a cuppa and other refreshments.
The following day the ladies were off to the hill capital Kandy, not without a stop at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Here, the ladies got up close and personal with baby jumbos bottle feeding them and treating them with fruit. They also witnessed one of the main tourist attraction’s of the place, the elephants bath time.
The Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya was their next destination with the spouses hopping onto a battery operated carriage for a 20 minute tour of it. After lunch at the gardens they headed to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth after which enjoyed a scenic train ride back to Colombo.On Friday, after the CHOGM 2013 opening ceremony and lunch hosted by the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the spouses visited the gem and jewellery exhibition on at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo.
Last morning they visited the Carlton Pre School in Maligawatte, Colombo 10 where they were welcomed by students.
The programme for the spouses ended yesterday. It began with a visit to the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo followed by a visit to Ape Gama, at Battaramulla, a specially created village in the city concept for CHOGM. The day would not have been complete without a shopping spree at two leading retail stores ODEL and the recently opened mega shopping complex of House of Fashions.
“It is quite an experience, I am really enjoying myself,”said Tobeka Madiba Zuma, wife of South African President Jacob Zuma as she fed apples to the Gangaramaya Temple elephant. Salma Kikwete, wife of Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said she enjoyed her stay in Sri Lanka.
Minister of Power and Energy, Pavitra Wanniarachchi who was the minister in attendance for the spouses said they had been grateful for the special programme that had been organised for them
“We tried our best to give the spouses the best experience, with many places to see and to shop. It is usually the spouses who get to travel while their better halves are busy with meetings and discussions. Most of the spouses were impressed with the fact they were able to learn so much about the country and its tradition and culture in such a short time,” she said.