Sri Lankan Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne on Saturday spoke highly of Shanghai Expo 2010 where he had paid a visit as the exhibition comes to an end on Sunday.

The fact that 246 countries and international organizations took part in the Shanghai Expo starting on May 1, signifies the profound confidence and faith on the proven abilities of the Chinese authorities to host such international events successfully, Jayaratne told Xinhua.

He said the last six months were eventful for all the participants of this exhibition as it provided an excellent opportunity for them to showcase their country profiles and their unique achievements.

Sri Lanka in particular, considers itself fortunate to have established its pavilion in close proximity to the Chinese pavilion which is in a way symbolic of the closeness and affinity between the two countries, the prime minister said.

Jayaratne, who attended the Sri Lanka Day of Shanghai Expo in July, said the exhibition gave the visitors a glimpse of the Sri Lanka's history, culture and traditions and its potential as an eco-friendly tourist destination and an immensely attractive country for foreign investors and visitors.

"Sri Lanka is thankful to the Chinese authorities for their excellent arrangements to make Shanghai World Expo 2010 a great success and a unique and historic event that would be remembered by the participants as well as visitors for many years to come," said Jayaratne.