Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

The Most Venerable Aggamahapanditha Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Rathanapala  Mahanayake Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter of Sri Lanka passed away this morning, Wednesday 8th April  at the Mount Elizabeth Orchard Hospital in Singapore.

Read more: Passing away of the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter

The Government of Sri Lanka has at present evacuated 54 Sri Lankans from Yemen. 

43 Sri Lankans were evacuated to Djibouti by a Chinese vessel on 6 April 2015, while India and Indonesia each evacuated 3 Sri Lankans. Previously, 5 Sri Lankans who had crossed over to Oman, from Mukalla were received in Salalah by officials of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Oman, who facilitated their return to Sri Lanka. 

Read more: Sri Lankans evacuated from Yemen

At the invitation of President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, President Maithripala Sirisena paid a State visit to Pakistan from 5^th to 7^th April 2015. This is the first visit by President Sirisena to Pakistan since his election in January, 2015.

Read more: President Maithripala Sirisena Concludes Successful State Visit To Pakistan

President Maithripala Sirisena will undertake a State visit to Pakistan from 05 to 07 April 2015 on an invitation extended by President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan. 

Read more: President Maithripala Sirisena to undertake a State visit to Pakistan

It has been reported that there are around 75-100 Sri Lankan expatriates, including students in Yemen. Due to the volatile situation in the country, the Government of Sri Lanka is making arrangements to evacuate all Sri Lankans in Yemen, who are principally residing in the capital, Sana’a and other main cities, such as Hodeida, Aden and Mukalla. 

Read more: GOSL makes arrangements to evacuate Sri Lankans in Yemen

H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka paid a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China from 25 to 27 March 2015 on the invitation of H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China.  During the visit, President Sirisena also met with H.E. Li Keqiang, Premier, and H.E. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China.  This was President Sirisena’s first visit to China as President undertaken within three months of his election.

Read more: President Maithripala Sirisena Undertakes Successful State Visit to the People’s Republic of China

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, arrived in Singapore today, and proceeded to the Parliament House, accompanied by Mr. Wishwanath Aponsu, Acting High Commissioner in Singapore to pay condolences on behalf of H.E. the President, Hon. Prime Minister and the people of Sri Lanka.

Read more: Foreign Minister pays last respects to Former Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew