President Maithripala Sirisena left the island for Britain a short while ago on his first official visit to that country.

The delegation led by the president left the island on board a normal Emirates Flight at 10.10am, and will be arriving in London via Dubai.

President Sirisena will be taking part in the Commonwealth Day Celebrations on March 9 in his capacity as Chairperson of the Commonwealth of Nations. He will also be meeting Queen Elizabeth II and will be holding talks with the British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March, and marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey, normally attended by Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth, with the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth High Commissioners in London.