President leaves for Malta

President Maithripala Sirisena left for Malta this morning to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (GHOGM) – 2015, to be held at Fort St. Angelo in Birgu from November 27-29.

Ministers, Mangala Samaraweera and Sagala Ratnayake have already arrived in Valetta, Malta to participate in CHOGM Foreign Ministers Meeting and Economic Forum respectively. President Sirisena, who is the current Chair-in-Office in the Commonwealth, will hand over the position to the Prime Minister of Malta Mr. Joseph Muscat.

A new Secretary-General for the 53-member association will also be selected during the CHOGM. The CHOGM is held every two years to enable leaders of Commonwealth countries to come together to discuss global and Commonwealth issues, and to decide on collective policies and initiatives.

When Sri Lanka hosted the CHOGM 2013, it was after a long break of 24 years since an Asian country was to host CHOGM. First Lady, Ms. Jayanthi Sirisena accompanied President Sirisena.