New Zealand Premier turns down Sri Lankan President's invitation, media report

New Zealand media has reported that Prime Minister John Key has declined an invitation from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to attend the cricket World Cup semifinal between the two countries in Colombo on Tuesday (29).


A spokesman from Key's office has reportedly said he had to decline the invitation.

The 3news agency has reported that he has however not given any reasons for turning down the invitation.

The President's Office yesterday announced that President Rajapaksa had extended an invitation to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to witness the world cup cricket semi-final encounter between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo.

Meanwhile the Pakistani Premier has accepted an invitation extended to him by his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to see the other semi-final match between India and Pakistan on March 30, in Mohali, India.