President silently salutes exporters
View(s):This week President Maithripala Sirisena, who was on time to hand over the coveted special Export Presidential Awards including the Exporter of Year which was the final one, was invited while still standing on stage to deliver his address. However he waved his hand at the announcer to indicate that he would not be speaking and at once turned to the audience clasped his hands to say “Ayubowan” and left.
He was followed by the entire entourage on the stage that included Ministers Malik Samarawickrama, Ravi Karunanayake, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy and Export Development Board Chairperson Indira Malwatte. That left the stage with only the announcer at the podium, a set of empty chairs and leaving the entire hall of the BMICH in limbo! The startled announcer then called for the Vote of Thanks to be delivered but by then most had left the hall. -(SD)