There has been significant discussion in political circles over the government’s decision not to invite Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to any official state functions, despite two foreign heads of state visiting Sri Lanka last week.
Traditionally, when a foreign head of state visits Sri Lanka, the Opposition Leader is invited to attend the official state reception ceremony. However, when Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu visited Sri Lanka last Tuesday, the government did not extend an invitation to the Opposition Leader for the official reception ceremony.
Additionally, last Thursday, when Tô Lâm, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, arrived in Sri Lanka, the government also did not take steps to invite the Opposition Leader to either the official reception ceremony or to meet the President.
