HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the sovereign ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, on Sunday arrived in Kerala on a five-day visit. He was greeted with Thalappoli and Pancharimelam at the technical area of Thiruvananthapuram international airport. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had invited Al-Qasimi to the state during his visit to the emirate last year, received him at the airport at Thiruvananthapuram. He said that and particularly with the state also.
“Kerala welcomes HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Still fondly remember his warm hospitality and the good words he expressed about Malayalees & Kerala during my visit to Sharjah last year (sic),” he wrote on the social networking website.
After inspecting a Guard of Honour, the ruler drove to the Kovalam beach, where he will be staying.
Sultan Al-Qasimi will call on Governor P. Sathasivam at 10.55 a.m. on Monday and later meet Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues at the Raj Bhavan. After lunch with the Governor, he will return to the beach resort where the State government will organise a cultural fiesta in his honour in the evening. He will take part in the dinner being hosted by the Chief Minister.
Sultan Al Qasimi, also the member of Federal Supreme Council of UAE, will confer a honorary doctorate at the function to be held at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday by the University of Calicut.
There are about 30 lakh Indians in UAE and majority of them are from Kerala. I am sure this visit will strengthen our relationship and make future more hopeful, Vijayan noted.
