On June 5, Suriname conferred its highest civilian honour to President Droupadi Murmu- The Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, the first Indian to receive this award.
President Murmu received the award from the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi.
After receiving the award, she said that the honour holds tremendous significance for her and the people of India.
“I am greatly honoured to receive Suriname’s highest distinction, “Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star.” This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent,” the President of India said in a tweet.
She dedicated the award to the “successive generations” of the Indian-Surinamese community.
“I also dedicate this honor to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries,” she said.
On the first leg of her state visit to Serbia and Suriname, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname, on June 4.
She was welcomed at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport with full state honours by Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the official release of Rashtrapati Bhavan read.
Earlier today, President Murmu commenced her engagements by visiting the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo to meet her counterpart, President Santokhi.
She received a warm welcome from her counterpart Santokhi at the Presidential palace in Paramaribo.
The President appreciated President Santokhi’s warmth and hospitality throughout the meetings. She was delighted to learn that Hindi is widely spoken in Suriname, which makes her remind of India.
India and Suriname on June 5 signed four major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in health, agriculture and capacity building.
The pacts were inked after Murmu and Santokhi held delegation-level talks. President Murmu led delegation-level talks between the two sides.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that she was happy to be in Suriname on her first State Visit as President of India when it is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in an official release.
(with inputs from ANI)
