An Exclusive: ‘Beautiful Coastal City & Friendly People’- Sri Lanka PM
‘Beautiful Coastal City & Friendly People-I’ll Be Back’- said Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was along with his wife, Maithree while interacting with Team Mangalorean during breakfast time at Hotel Taj Gateway-Mangaluru this morning before he left to Mangaluru International Airport to catch his flight to Delhi- Colombo-Sri Lanka. Yours Truly of Team Mangalorean had the privilege to meet the Sri Lankan PM this morning, who was very friendly and jovial. The 69-year-old PM was a soft spoken, down-to-earth person who didn’t show any signs of greatness or proudness- but was quite a simple man, and even though we had met for the first time he was very open in his communication and friendly- this was the proudest moment in my life having close encounters with a Prime Minister of a Country for the First time.
Sri Lanka PM Wickremesinghe and his Wife, Maithree
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister had arrived yesterday, 21 November at Mangaluru International Airport, from there, he was escorted by Mangaluru City Police and Sri Lankan Security Personnel to Hotel Taj Gateway-Mangaluru, where he had stayed for a day. Yesterday morning, around 9:00 am he went to Sri Mookambika Temple-Kollur, Udupi District, where he participated in Chandika Homa and took prasadam from the deities. After performing the ritual, he returned back to the Hotel in the afternoon and had the authentic Mangalorean South Indian Thali, along with his wife. For dinner, PM and his wife enjoyed the traditional and authentic Mangalorean cuisine meticulously and specially prepared by Sinu Vijayan-the Executive Chef along with his kitchen team at Taj. “The PM liked the Prawns Ghee Roast, Paneer Ghee Roast, Idiyappam with Sri Lanka Sambal, and this morning he liked the Mangalore style Buns and Ragi Mani. He also took a bite of the spicy Bedagi Chilly” said Chef Sinu.
It should be noted that Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who had planned his visit to Sri Mookambika Temple on 27 August 2017 was cancelled due to bad weather then- so he had rescheduled his plan for 21 November 2017. There was tight security around the Hotel, and during the arrival and departure of the PM the roads near to Taj Hotel were closed for the public and traffic. This morning, the PM and his wife also met a few guests staying at the Hotel, including a few British nationals and also Babu Antony- the Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu etc actor. (see pic).
After a long travel and exhaustive schedule, the Prime Minister did not look tired when Team Mangalorean met him this morning- he was quite cheerful and relaxed and answered a few queries with ease. About his experience visiting Mangaluru and also Sri Mookambika Temple, he said, “I always wanted to visit Sri Mookambika Temple -my earlier plans of visiting the Temple on 17 August 2017 got cancelled due to bad weather- and I had to go back to Colombo from Bengaluru. My visit to the temple this time was worth a visit, and the deities at the temple were courteous and friendly, including the temple people. After Chandika Homa and accepting the prasadam from the deities, I returned back to Mangaluru City. This scenic city is beautiful with lots of coconut trees like Colombo-Sri Lanka. People are friendly and the hospitality shown towards me and my wife during our short stay was unbelievable and worth appreciating. If time permits I will surely visit this Coastal town again.”
When asked about his stay at Hotel Taj Gateway, the PM said, “Right from the General Manager (Peter Nirmal) to the Front Office Crew, F&B Manager (Noor Mohammed) House-Keeping Manager (Kamala Ashok) and her team- every one of them was courteous and friendly, and provided us with the best hospitality one could think of. Excellent hospitality and excellent service, all I can say. The food was fabulous (morning breakfast, lunch and dinner) and very tasty-my compliments to the Hotel Chef (Sinu Vijayan). No complaints at all- to the Hotel team I say, keep up the good work that you are all entrusted with, and may God bless you all. How about the security, Sir? No complaints- well handled by the entire team. I appreciate their efforts, dedication and commitment. My sincere thanks to everyone who had played a vital role in seeing that everything was okay, added PM.
The PM seen with South Indian Actor Babu Antony (Left) and Peter Nirmal, GM Hotel Taj Gateway
When asked what he had to say about India and Sri Lanka relationship, the PM said that on the international front, starting with India, things have been working out well with India, and working on the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA). There has been general goodwill on both sides. It is the continuity relationship between India and Sri Lanka, and it has been quite good for a while. The fishing issue must be resolved. Yes, it’s the fishermen’s issue. We should sort it out. We shouldn’t allow that issue to continue. My sympathies are with the northern fishermen who say, ‘now let us fish in our own waters.’ What do you have to say about your people who voted you to be their PM, for which Ranil replied, “Sri Lankan people wanted good governance, transparency. They also liked to see rapid economic progress.
When asked whether India can play a big role in various development projects in Sri Lanka, the PM replied, “Certainly. Indian investors are free to come. Also giving deep interest in matters concerning archaeology, heritage history and heritage, we are doing a lot of prehistory [projects involving] Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. I want to give more [attention] on the relationship between Kerala and Sri Lanka, especially on the southwest coast. We will first have to get the Our Country moving – that’s the priority – and then to look at all other issues.”. And due to short time, thus ended the interaction with Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe
Ms Doreen Patrao- Reservation-in-Charge and Mohammed Irshad- Front Office Manager at Hotel Taj Gateway, coordinated and arranged the entire visit and stay of Sri lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe
About Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe:
Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP (born 24 March 1949) is a Sri Lankan politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka since 9 January 2015, as Leader of the United National Party since 1994 and the Member of Parliament for Colombo District since 1977. He is also the leader of the United National Front, having been appointed head of the alliance in October 2009. Wickremesinghe also previously served as prime minister from 7 May 1993 to 19 August 1994 and 9 December 2001 to 6 April 2004.
He was appointed party leader in November 1994 following the assassination of Gamini Dissanayake during the campaign for the 1994 presidential election. On 8 January 2015, Wickremesinghe was appointed as prime minister by President Maithripala Sirisena, who had defeated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the 2015 presidential election. Wickremesinghe’s coalition alliance, the United National Front for Good Governance, won the 2015 parliamentary election with 106 seats. Although it fell short of an outright majority, Wickremesinghe was re-elected as Prime Minister with over 35 Sri Lanka Freedom Party members joining his cabinet.
Born on 24 March 1949 in Colombo, Wickremasinghe is the second son of Esmond Wickremesinghe and Nalini Wickremesinghe née Wijewardena. His father was an ex-Samasamajist lawyer who became a press baron taking over the Lake House Group of newspapers from his wife’s father D. R. Wijewardena. Wickremesinghe was educated at Royal College, Colombo where he was a classmate and friend of Anura Bandaranaike, son of then Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranaike and Dinesh Gunawardena, son of socialist leader Philip Gunawardena. Wickremasinghe entered the Faculty of Law at the University of Ceylon, Colombo campus (now University of Colombo). After graduation, he completed the law exams at the Sri Lanka Law College and took oaths as an advocate in 1972. Wickramasinghe received an honorary doctorate from Deakin University in Australia on February 14th, 2017, for his significant contributions in reforms in economy, education and human rights.
Wickremasinghe joined the United National Party (UNP) and progressed through its ranks. He was appointed as the chief organizer of the Kelaniya Electorate in the mid-1970s but was later appointed as the chief organizer of the Biyagama Electorate, which he won in the 1977 parliamentary elections. He was also one of the youngest cabinet ministers.
