President Mahinda Rajapakse's visit to China
Photos - Sudath Silva

The Sri Lankan delegate team headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who left the island to China on 26th Monday arrived in Beijing at 6.30 a.m. in local time, officials of the President's Media unit report from Beijing.

The President and the delegates were cordially welcomed by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Tshuwei Tian Kai. Later, President and the delegates were taken to the Diyotha Palace where guest state heads are officially welcomed and honoured in a vehicle cordon.

Sri Lankan delegate team comprises of venerable high Buddhist priests representing the  tri secretion sects, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Petroleum & Petroleum Resources Development A.H.M. Fawzie,  Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardana, Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Cultural Affairs Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Minister of Transport Dullas Alahapperuma and several other Ministers accompanied by Officials from the Board of Investment (BOI) and high Government Officials.

Beijing Reports state that First and foremost of the visit, President Rajapaksa will be handing over the eye donation from Sri Lanka to the Chinese Red Cross. Later today, the President will gift the baby elephant ‘Migara' born in Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka, to the Beijing Zoo.