HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam safely arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which is to be held from November 15 to 17, 2013.

Accompanying His Majesty are His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah.

Upon arrival at the Bandaraike International Airport, His Majesty was greeted by Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, Minister of Good Governance and Infrastructure (former Prime Minister) as the representative of the President of Sri Lanka and senior officials of the Government of Sri Lanka.

Also present to greet His Majesty were Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; and Dato Paduka Haji Sidek bin Ali, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Sri Lanka, who resides in India.

His Majesty consented to view a Sri Lanka welcoming dance before boarding a motorcade towards the Hilton Colombo Hotel, where His Majesty will reside throughout the meeting.

Upon arrival at the hotel, His Majesty was greeted by Manesh Fernando, the General Manager of the hotel and staff.

The theme for this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is “Growth with Equity, Inclusive Development”.

Accompanying His Majesty are Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister’s Office and Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Before leaving the Istana Nurul Iman yesterday, a Doa Selamat was read by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.

Present at His Majesty the Sultan’s Flight Hangar to bid farewell to His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik as well as other members of the royal family.

Also present at the hangar were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Cheterias; the speaker of the Legislative Council; Cabinet Ministers; Members of Privy Council; Deputy Ministers; the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; and the Commissioner of Police.

The CHOGM is held every two years to enable leaders of Commonwealth countries to come together to discuss global and Commonwealth issues and to decide on collective policies and initiatives. - Borneo Bulletin (15 November 2013)