Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa received on Monday in Colombo UAE’s ambassador Mahmoud Mohammad Mahmoud who called on him to bid farewell on the completion of his tenure as ambassador.

Rajapaksa expressed gratitude to the UAE for its humanitarian efforts in his country and said that such efforts had played a great role in enhancing bilateral relations.

Mahmoud also expressed his gratitude to the people and the government of Sri Lanka for their cooperation during his tenure. He also met with the Sri Lankan foreign minister G.L. Peiris and discussed with him a number of issues of common concern.