THE Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Kamalesh Sharma, who is currently on his first visit to Tonga, was officially welcomed by the Government of Tonga with a luncheon in Vava'u after arriving on Saturday, July 16.

Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu told Matangi Tonga Online on July 18, that the Government invited the Secretary-General to Vava'u for the weekend, where a welcoming lunch was held at Mounu Island on Sunday, July 17.

The Deputy Prime Minister represented the Tongan Government and accompanied by Tonga's Chief Justice Hon Michael Dishington Scott on the trip to Vava'u while the Secretary General was with his wife and two members of his delegation.

They returned to Nuku'alofa this morning, Monday July 18 where the Secretary General continued his meetings in Nuku'alofa. He will meet with Tongan Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano on July 19.

Hon. Vaipulu said that this was a great opportunity for Tonga to discuss with the Secretary General various areas of mutual interest such as matters of the judiciary and development and at the same time to strengthen those ties.

The Secretary-General who attended at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Sydney in mid-July visited Samoa, to meet with RPrime Miniter Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi from July 14-15 before coming to Tonga.

During the visit the secretary-General intended to meet the twoPrime Ministers primarily to exchange views on the agenda and key issues for the forthcoming Commonwealth Head of Government Meeeting, to be held in Perth, Australia, in Octoebr 2011.

A former Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Mr Sharma succeeded the Rt. Hon Don McKinnon in the top Commonwealth posting.

He departs Tonga on July 19.