India and Mauritius today signed three Memorandums of Understanding during the state visit of President Pranab Mukherjee. One MoU was on persons with disabilities and senior citizens, another on co-operation in the field of health and medicine and the third was on co-operation in the field of tourism. Earlier in the morning President Mukherjee laid a wreath at the Samadhi of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. In his banquet speech the President had said last night that the indelible mark of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam’s vision can be seen today in the impressive progress that Mauritius has achieved over the last 45 years especially in the areas of health and education. The President’s visit to Aapravasi Ghat today was specially significant as this is a World Heritage Site where labourers from India first landed in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is their descendents that make up 70 percent of the island nation’s population and it is this population that has a special kinship with India.
Later this evening the Chief Justice of Mauritius, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Mauritius and the Leader of Opposition will call on President Pranab Mukherjee after which he will witness the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius as chief guest