 I am extremely pleased and privileged to welcome the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mahindra Rajapaksa, with the 12 Global Symposium Procurators jointly organized by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka. Your Excellency's participation in the opening ceremony undoubtedly empilates all of us. We sincerely thank you for your most distinguished presence here today. Your Excellency, your presence here today is all the most significant because you have not only brought peace to our motherland, but also because you have been the light wire and the force behind Sri Lanka's success in ICT and telecommunications, both subjects being very close to your heart. Your passion and desire to empower our rural communities has earned you praise from such jams of ICT like its delegates, and undoubtedly we draw inspiration from your presence at this symposium. Dr. Hamdol Mkhore, ITU Secretary-General is no stranger to our Sri Lanka. I wish to welcome you, Dr. Mkhore, to this Global Symposium very warmly, and the outset thank you for all the support and guidance that you have given us at the TRC to make this symposium a successful event. Dr. Mkhore, this is not the first time for you to be here in Sri Lanka. And during your past visits, I'm sure you would have observed what the terrorist country had done to our country during a prolonged period of 30 years. You would have now observed, I'm sure, during the period you are here, the giant strides Sri Lanka has made since May 2009. It is also privilege to welcome the Honourable Ministers and the Labour Ministers of Sri Lanka, as well as Honourable Ministers and the Labour Ministers of a large number of countries present this morning. I welcome you all to this opening ceremony of this Global Symposium. I must also welcome Mr. Dao, the Labour Secretary-General of ITU, and all other senior officials of the ITU to this symposium. Their support to the TRC SL has been tremendous, and it is really good to have the most of the senior ITU staff in Sri Lanka for this global event. Your Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka, Honourable Ministers, distinguished colleagues, this symposium brings together some of the stalwarts in the global telecommunication industry. Among them are inventors, academics, key industrial players, such as CEOs of large telephones, and of course the regulators who handle very tough situations in their respective countries. I welcome all of them to our beautiful country and to this symposium. It is their thoughts, viewpoints and deliberations that will keep this entire symposium alive. I also warmly welcome all the distinguished invitees to this opening ceremony. There are many high officials and ambassadors who are present here this morning. A warm welcome to all of you. Your presence here this morning gives us much needed confidence to forward it in many heart-breaking initiatives. Your Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka, I am sure you would be very pleased to hear that this symposium will discuss many topics related to telecommunication and ICP sectors that will have a great impact on the telecommunication services offered to the people in our respective countries. Later in this opening ceremony, we will be privileged to listen to you and all of us look up to your guidance and words of practical history that will help us to shape our policies to serve our people's well. All of you have passed with making work on remarks. In conclusion, I consider it my duty to thank the many people who contributed tremendously to make this event successful. The director of the PRC worked tirelessly with PRC staff and many other stakeholders within and outside the government of Sri Lanka for months to bring this event to what you see today. A special word of thanks to our security teams for helping us in numerous ways. The list of supporters and contributors are far too many, Your Excellency, to mention by name. Let me thank all of them for the unscrupulous support they have given to us. Finally, I invite all of you colleagues, delegates to save up our hospitality for which we have earned the name throughout centuries and wish you the very best in all the work you undertake on behalf of your people whom we are presenting at this remarkable event. Thank you very much.