Diana Gamage elected as President of Sri Lanka – South Africa Parliamentary Friendship Association

Member of Parliament Diana Gamage was elected as the President of Sri Lanka – South Africa Parliamentary Friendship Association for the ninth Parliament on Monday, Parliament said.

The meeting was held under the patronage of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Sandile Edwin Schalk, High Commissioner of South Africa in Sri Lanka, participated in the meeting as the special guest of honour. Several Ministers, State Ministers, Members of Parliament and the Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake were also present at this meeting.

At this meeting Hon. Members Aravindh Kumar, Weerasumana Weerasinghe and Marjan Faleel were elected as the Vice- Presidents of the Association. MP Prof. Charitha Herath was elected as the Secretary and Hon. MP S. M. M. Muszhaaraff was elected as the Asst. Secretary. MP Ishak Rahuman was elected as the Treasurer of the Association.

Addressing the meeting, the Speaker said that Sri Lanka - South Africa Parliamentary Friendship Association would further enhance the cordial relationship that exists between the two countries for many decades to come. “South Africa is the leading trading partner for Sri Lanka in the South African Region and the two countries intend to enter into a free trade agreement” Speaker added.

Congratulating the President and office bearers on their membership of the Association, Sandile Edwin Schalk, High Commissioner of South Africa in Sri Lanka expressed confidence that the establishment of the Association would strengthen Parliamentary exchanges and interactions between the two countries.

While denying the media reports on the new variant of the Covid virus “Omicrone” the High Commissioner clarified that although South African doctors were the first to discover the virus, it was not originated in South Africa.