30 April 2014
Sri Lankan President visits Bahrain National Museum
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa also toured Bahrain National Museum as part of his official state visit on April 30th 2014. Indeed, at the invitation of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, paid his first state visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain from 28-30 April, 2014.The President was warmly welcomed at the Bahrain airport by Bahrain prime minister Khalifa Bin Salman Bin Hamad and Governor of Muharak Salman Bin Hindi.
President Rajapaksa was received at the Al-Sakhir Palace by the King of Bahrain His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and other high-level Bahraini officials. Prior to the signing, President Rajapaksa received a warm welcome at the Palace.
During bilateral discussions, the two leaders discussed a number of matters of mutual interest while also expressing the mutual support of the two countries in the international arena. Bahrain’s Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa hosted a luncheon in honor of the visiting President.
President Rajapaksa was received by Assistant Undersecretary for Tourism, H.E Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al-Khalifa, who stressed Bahrain's keen interest in promoting cultural relations with Sri Lanka and other Asian states as it celebrates Manama Capital of Asian Tourism2014.
President Rajapaksa stressed the importance of bolstering bilateral cultural exchanges, expressing delighting at getting a taste of Bahrain's deep-rooted heritage which dates back to 5,000 years ago.
During his visit, the Sri Lankan President toured the different sections of the museum, which includes three halls devoted to archaeology and the ancient civilisation of the Dilmun, while two other halls depict Bahrain's culture, lifestyle and handicrafts. Burial Halls reflect what many archaeologists have unearthed few pieces of pottery and occasionally shell or stone stamp seals, baskets sealed with asphalt, ivory objects, stone jars, and copper weapons inside these burial mounds’ graves. The Sri Lankan President appreciated the historical importance of the archaeological findings exhibited at the museum halls, and was impressed by the precious stones, semi-precious metals inside these ancient civilization’s graves. In fact, Bahrain National Museum boasts 7000 years old artefacts since the first human inhabitants set foots here.
In addition to the archaeological exhibits, the Sri Lankan president visited also Hall of Customs and Traditions and the Hall of Trades and Crafts, where life-size models of people are displayed in realistic settings, showing how life in Bahrain was lived in pre-oil, pre-air-conditioning times.
