In a statement Friday, PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde said Sirisena and the other visiting delegates will attend a meeting with top Philippine officials to discuss President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Los Baños, Philippines, 18 January 2019 – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Government of Sri Lanka today inked a comprehensive work plan to advance Sri Lanka’s rice self sufficiency goals through joint research for development projects in the country in the next five years.

Jacqueline Hughes, IRRI’s Deputy Director General for Research and Honorable Sumith Nakandala, Additional Secretary for Bilateral Affairs of the Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs served as the signatories.

President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs has an admirer in Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who called the campaign “an example to the world.”

During a state banquet hosted for him at Malacañang on Wednesday, Sirisena said Sri Lanka should follow Duterte’s crackdown on narcotics to address its drug problem.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday, January 16, agreed to implement concrete actions aimed at enhancing the ties between the two nations.

“In our meetings, we resolved to further strengthen our engagement in trade, defense, agriculture and tourism, education, cultural and people-to-people exchanges,” President Duterte said during the joint press statement following their expanded bilateral meeting at the Malacañan Palace.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, January 16, hosted a state banquet for visiting Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena calling him the Philippines’ true friend.

“Tonight is a gathering of new friends as much as it is a celebration of a returning friend. President Sirisena certainly qualifies as a true friend of the Philippines,” President Duterte said during the toast.

“He has been to our country several times and at several points. This includes Metro Manila, Laguna, and yes, even in Davao.”

A new ministry recently opened in Bonifacio Global City, and it’s not the ministry of magic. In fact, it’s even better, as Shangri-La at the Fort brings to you a different kind of magic—the magic of fresh, locally sourced crabs through its latest dining destination dubbed as the Ministry of Crab.

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena’s state visit to the Philippines yielded agreements on defense, agriculture, and education cooperation for the two countries.

Sirisena and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte witnessed the signing of 5 memoranda of understanding on Wednesday, January 16, in Malacañang Palace.