Sri Lanka to confer highest title on Maldivian president

Sri Lanka will confer its highest title, Lanka Mithra Vibhushana, on Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom during his two-day official visit to the island beginning Tuesday.

The honour is in recognition of Gayoom's contribution to the friendship between the two countries, enhancement of South Asian cooperation, and the global campaign in relation to climate change, a Sri Lankan government release said Monday.

This year Gayoom completes 30 years as president of the Maldives.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives have very close relations. Sri Lankan hotel chains run many well-known resorts in the Maldives, which is a cluster of tiny islands. Many Sri Lankans work in the Maldives in the tourism and hotel sectors.

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http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080211/97056.htm