President Maithripala Sirisena and President Moon Jae-in laid a firm foundation for – what the Korean President described as a ‘solid foundation for stronger friendship and cooperation between the two countries in the next 40 years’. 

He said this during the banquet held in honour of President Sirisena at the Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House), the Presidential House in Seoul. Sirisena was on a three-day state visit to Korea when this year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
 
All the events during the visit of Sirisena were evident in the warmth of the welcome. “Your President received a better welcome than President Trump who was here earlier this month,” quipped Ambassador Jagmoon Choi, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs, who was at both banquet given to Trump and Sirisena in November 2017. “ President Moon did not meet Trump for a friendly chat before the official meeting, but he went to Jogseya temple to receive Sirisena a day before the official summit meeting. 

Furthermore, Sirisena is an honoured citizen of Seoul Metropolitan now,” he said.
 
The President was conferred with the Honorary Citizenship of Seoul Metropolitan Government by the Mayor of Seoul Metropolitan Government, Park Won-soon at a special ceremony held at the Mayor’s Office in Seoul on November 30.

“I was highly impressed with the President’s untiring efforts to develop the country, the city of Colombo and further strengthen bilateral ties with the Republic of Korea. Hence, the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to confer the Honorary Citizenship to His Excellency President Sirisena as a symbol of our close friendship”, the Mayor said.

The Citation of the Honorary Citizenship stated:

“On behalf of the citizens of Seoul Metropolitan Government, am privileged to present this Certificate to, and hereby, confer Honorary Citizenship upon Maithipala Sirisena.”