Sri Lankan President arrives in Indonesia to attend Bali Democracy Forum

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan delegation arrived at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia today (07) to attend the Bali Democracy Forum IV.


Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng and Indonesian children welcomed the President at the airport.


The President is attending the two-day forum that will be held from December 8-9 at Bali International Convention Center (BICC) in Nusa Dua, Bali, on an invitation extended by Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G L Peiris, Parliamentarian Sajin Vas Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Chief of Staff to the President, Gamini Senarath, Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Indonesia, Major General Nanda Mallawarachchi accompanied the President.
The theme of the BDF IV is "Enhancing Democratic Participation in a Changing World: Responding to Democratic Voices".
This year's forum will focus on efforts towards enhanced people participation by way of responding to democratic voices, and relevant issues involved in the process.
This year 15 heads of states in the region are expected to attend the forum, along with 54 participating countries from the Asia Pacific region, and 66 countries and international organizations attending as observers.
Initiating a learning and sharing process among countries in Asia as a strategy towards the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond, is the main goal of the BDF.
In addition, BDF's common goals and objectives include placing democracy as a strategic agenda in regional discourse in Asia and forging closer understanding and cooperation among participating countries of the BDF while establishing a regional cooperation forum that promotes political development through dialogue and sharing of experience that is aimed at strengthening democratic institutions.