(Pervez Bari): Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar have congratulated Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on assuming office for the 3rd time. Appreciating the Chief Minister’s able leadership, Mahinda Rajapaksa described his 3rd term as the victory of people-oriented policies and people’s trust in them.
Referring to his Madhya Pradesh visit in September last year to participate in foundation laying ceremony of Sanchi Buddhist and Indic Studies University, Rajapaksa described it as a unique initiative of Madhya Pradesh government. He expressed happiness over the fact that teaching of academic courses will begin soon in the university.
In his letter, Rajapaksa said that India and Sri Lanka are both ancient countries and have close mutual relations. He said that people of Sri Lanka are overwhelmed by Madhya Pradesh government’s initiative to give new dimension to these relations. He said that large number of tourists from Sri Lanka visit Sanchi and other Buddhist centres in Madhya Pradesh. Praising Madhya Pradesh’s efforts for construction of Sita Mata temple at Divroopmala in Sri Lanka, he said that it will further cement ties between the two countries and specially between Madhya Pradesh and Sri Lanka. He hoped that Madhya Pradesh will continue to march ahead on path of development under the leadership of Chouhan.
Similarly, the Bhutan King Jigme Khesar congratulated the Chief Minister. He said that it is clear from victory for the third time that people of Madhya Pradesh have shown trust in Chouhan’s leadership. He hoped that Madhya Pradesh will continue to set new records of peace and prosperity under the leadership of Chouhan. (pervezbari@eth.net)