President speaks to Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Sec. Gen.

COLOMBO (News 1st): President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has called the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) - Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen and discussed existing relations between OIC and Sri Lanka, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said on its Twitter handle. "#OIC Secretary-General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen received a phone call from the President of #SriLanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and discussed with him the existing relations between the OIC and Sri Lanka as well as the situation of the Muslim community in the country," the OIC tweeted on Sunday (Mar. 21). OIC Secretary-General, Al-Othaimeen had praised the Sri Lankan President’s phone call and his willingness to open up and reach out to international organizations. Furthermore, according to OIC, the Secretary-General also welcomed the decision of the Sri Lankan Government on the right of Muslims to bury their dead in accordance with the Islamic rites. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the OIC’s keenness to follow up the conditions of Muslim communities and defend their rights in non-OIC member states, the tweet further noted.