Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Tanzania to commence a 5 day visit to Tanzania and Seychelles. Rajapaksa’s arrival in Tanzania marks the first ever visit by a Sri Lankan president to the two nations.
Rajapaksa’s media unit has described the visit as part of his vision of further strengthening South-South cooperation. Bilateral discussions have been organised with the Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, to help strengthen the economic, trade and tourism relations between the two countries.
Rajapaksa's vast array of ministerial accompaniments to Tanzania included Minister of External Affairs G L Peiris.