The President, who will take EK 107 passenger flight of Emirates Airlines, is scheduled to arrive at the International Airport in Valletta, the capital city of Malta at 1.30 pm local time.

The Sri Lankan President, the current Chair-in-Office, will hand over his position to Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta, at the commencement of the Heads of Government meeting.

The country’s capital city saw heavy security measures on Wednesday as the city prepared to welcome a number of heads of state attending the main session of CHOGM. Queen Elizabeth II will ceremonially head the meeting starting on November 27.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Southern Development, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka arrived in Malta on Tuesday to attend other Commonwealth events, which commenced early this week. The Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting, attended by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, will discuss issues of concern to member states, such as violent extremism and radicalisation and challenges facing small states, and review developments in the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Business Forum, which draws the attention of business and economic circles across the world, commenced yesterday), will bring together together 1,300 business leaders from 75 countries.

The theme of the current session’s business forum was “Creating a more prosperous Commonwealth.”

The Prime Minister of Malta opened the Forum on Tuesday. Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, who attended the Commonwealth Business Forum representing the Sri Lankan government, send a large number of emerging businessmen from Sri Lanka took part in this year’s forum.

Speakers at the Forum will include the Prince of Wales, Akinwumi Ambode, Executive Governor of Lagos States, Lord Maude, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment, and Paul Manduca, Chairman of Prudential.