Speaking to the Daily Observer yesterday morning, Mohammed Foday Yumkella, Sierra Leonean High Commissioner in Banjul thanked the Gambian leader President Dr Yahya Jammeh and the entire Gambian people for the hospitality accorded to President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma during his state visit recently.

Speaking on behalf of his President, High Commissioner Yumkella spoke warmly of the welcome and kindness of The Gambian President, Government and people during President Koroma's visit. Below we reproduced the full text of the High Commissioner's message.

On behalf of the President His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, government and people of the Republic of Sierra Leone, in particular the entire Sierra Leone community in The Gambia, the Sierra Leone High Commissioner to The Republic of The Gambia and staff of the Mission wish to express their most sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J Jammeh, government and the people of the Republic of The Gambia for the exceptionally warm reception and kind hospitality accorded the President and his entourage during his state visit to the sister Republic of The Gambia

May the brotherly and friendly ties that have existed over the centuries between the peoples of The Gambia and Sierra Leone grow from strength to strength.

Long live the peoples of the sister republics, long live the republics of The Gambia and Sierra Leone.