NEWSBITES: Rajapakse snubbed by New Zealand as he tries to include World Cup in official trip

Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse was snubbed by New Zealand, when he tried to include the Rugby World Cup Finals in Auckland as part of

an official trip. Sources in New Zealand told Lanka Standard Prime Minister John Key had refused to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse. Failing to secure any meetings with the World cup host government, the Rajapakse regime had desperately sought official appointments with the business community but the Kiwis were not forthcoming.

Foiled in their plans to incorporate the World Cup as part of an official trip with the tab picked up by Sri Lanka’s tax payers, Rajapakse and his massive entourage of over 100 touched down in Perth Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Tuesday October 25.

A business source in New Zealand told Lanka Standard the country still recovering from the Christchurch earthquake and Pike River mine disaster was in no mood to discuss business with a President of a country who was merely trying to witness a Sports event and have it paid for with public funds.

Meanwhile New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key praised their World Cup-winning squad as “champions and heroes” the day after their 8-7 victory over France in Auckland. Speaking at the All Blacks’ victory parade in Auckland, Key reportedly said  the tightly fought match had “galvanised the country” and that it is “a fairytale ending” to a “very tough 12 months” for the country after the natural disasters it suffered.

 

 

1 Comment to “NEWSBITES: Rajapakse snubbed by New Zealand as he tries to include World Cup in official trip”

• gihani Ferdinands
  November 11, 2011 at 3:43 am

  I like this internet site its a master piece ! Glad I identified this on google .Good for MR always trying to get the tax payer to pay for his exploits and his election campaigns