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Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa
SRI LANKA AND ROMANIA PLEDGE TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND INCREASE AND DIVERSIFY FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Saturday, 19 December 2020 15:55
Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Romania Cornel Feruţă held virtual bilateral Foreign Office consultations on 16 December 2020. A new roadmap for enhanced cooperation in prioritized sectors between Sri Lanka and Romania was identified at the third session of the Sri Lanka-Romania bilateral consultations.
The head of delegation of Sri Lanka and Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, announced the opening of a Sri Lanka Embassy in Romania next year and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to further consolidate the excellent bilateral engagement spanning sixty three years since 1957. Foreign Secretary Colombage also provided an overview of the economic and development priorities of the new Government, and highlighted the envisioned people-centric and knowledge-driven new beginning for Sri Lanka recognizing that the 21st Century was defined by knowledge and innovation.
Focusing on cooperation in the labour sector, State Secretary Feruţă stated that despite the pandemic Romania has continued to issue work permits to skilled and semi skilled workers from Sri Lanka. He stated that only this week 1,500 new work permits have been issued. There are currently over 8,000 Sri Lankan workers in Romania employed predominantly in the apparel, hospitality and construction sectors, with more skilled job opportunities opening up in other fields such as IT. State Secretary Cornel Feruţă further stated that the economic stimulus offered by the Romanian Government to workers in Romania had also been extended to cover foreign workers.
The discussions were wide ranging and substantive, and reviewed bilateral interests and ongoing programmes in the political, economic, education, energy, agriculture, labour, security, education and social areas. Both sides agreed to revitalize and expand the bilateral trade and investment portfolio to fully avail of the EU GSP+ facility and access the wider markets in Central Europe and Asia, respectively. Technical assistance in locomotive rehabilitation and production, capacity building to address skill gaps in the oil and gas sector and agri processing, were identified for further cooperation. The talks also reviewed shared interests in the regional and multilateral areas.
Senior officials representing Ministry of Buddhasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs, Department of Labour, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, Department of Commerce and Foreign ministry, including Ambassador Victor Chiujdea of the Embassy of Romania in Colombo participated.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
19 December 2020
IORA COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ENDORSE SRI LANKA NOMINATION AS VICE CHAIR FOR 2021-2023
Friday, 18 December 2020 19:07
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena leading the Sri Lanka delegation thanked all Member States for placing their confidence in Sri Lanka when its application for the position of Vice Chair was endorsed at 20th Council of Ministers (CoM) Meeting virtually hosted by the United Arab Emirates today (17/12). Sri Lanka thereafter is expected to take over the Chair for the year 2023 to 2025.
The CoM was preceded by the 22nd Session of the Committee of Senior Officials (CoS) on 15 and 16 December 2020. The Sri Lanka delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage.
Addressing the Member States, Foreign Minister informed that Sri Lanka, strongly believes that only a safe, secure and peaceful Indian Ocean can bring about economic prosperity and that this notion emanates from Sri Lanka’s commitment to promote the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace. He added that, only continuous commitment and collaborative efforts of all Member States and Dialogue Partners could only help achieve and uphold this UN Resolution.
Further, the Minister stated that Sri Lanka during its tenure wishes to promote, track 1 and 1.5 interactions with Member States to share experiences and expertise including best practices and a gathering of Parliamentarian friendship group so that there would be a platform for interaction on IORA priority and focus areas.
He also added that, since 2018, Sri Lanka as the Coordinator of the IORA Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security, has dedicated its efforts to ensuring that there is greater connectivity via knowledge and experience sharing through the Work Plan adopted at the Working Group Meeting held in Colombo in August 2019.
Sri Lanka is expected to host the Blue Economy Conference in the second half of 2021 and also undertake a study on identifying bottle necks to maritime trade in the IORA region. Sri Lanka also indicated its interest to join the IORA Cluster Group on Fisheries Management (CGFM). Sri Lanka is also member of the IORA cluster groups; Disaster Risk Management (DRM), Blue Economy (BE) and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges (TCE).
The Sri Lanka delegation comprised of Additional Secretary P.M Amza, Director General Ocean Affairs, Environment and Climate Change, Hasanthi Dissanayake, Actg. Director General Economic Affairs (Multilateral) Anzul Jhan and Development Officer Inoka Dharmadasa of the Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
17 December 2020
SIXTH SRI LANKA-PAKISTAN FOREIGN OFFICE CONSULTATIONS CONCLUDED VIRTUALLY
Thursday, 17 December 2020 21:32
The sixth round of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Foreign Office Consultations was convened by virtual mode on 16 December 2020 after a lapse of three years under the co-chairmanship of Foreign Secretaries Admiral (Prof) Jayanath Colombage and Ambassador Sohail Mahmood respectively.
During the Consultations, a wide range of issues reflecting the robust collaboration between the two countries were discussed. This covered trade and investment, culture and tourism, defence cooperation, agriculture and animal husbandry, education and technical cooperation, sports and media, aviation sectors with emphasis on a deliverable work agenda.
Foreign Secretary Admiral (Prof) Colombage underscored the realignment of Sri Lanka’s foreign relations towards neutrality and neighbourhood centric cooperation, based on the three pillars of national security, economic development and foreign policy. Foreign Secretary Ambassador Mahmood assured Pakistan’s full support for Sri Lanka’s development agenda through enhanced collaborations.
In order to address the constraints in achieving the full benefits of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA) that was signed in 2002, both sides agreed to revitalize the already established affiliated bilateral instruments. As PSFTA was Pakistan’s first such bilateral trade mechanism with another country, Foreign Secretary Mahmood stressed the need to expand its activities to capital and investment fields. Sri Lanka thanked Pakistan for the forthright support given to the Sri Lankans in Pakistan, particularly students, when the Covid-19 outbreak emerged. Both Foreign Secretaries endorsed rapid action to finalize the pending bilateral instruments without delay, while expediting the credit line projects implementation.
Along with Foreign Secretary Admiral (Prof) Colombage, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Islamabad Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Karachi G.L.Gnanatheva and Senior Officials of the Foreign Ministry, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Education and the Representatives of the Sri Lankan Airlines participated at the virtual Consultations.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
17 December 2020
Notice to All Sri Lankan Pensioners Stranded in Canada due to COVID – 19 Pandemic
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 22:09
SRI LANKA TO PARTNER WITH THAILAND IN DIVERSIFIED AREAS FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Monday, 14 December 2020 19:29
Ambassador of Thailand in Sri Lanka Chulamanee Chartsuwan paid a courtesy call on Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage on 10 December 2020 and discussed ways to fast track areas of cooperation in diversified sectors.
The two dignitaries held focused discussions on ways to strengthen and fast track the bilateral relationship. Both commended the ongoing discussions on the Thailand Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and noted on the progress made by both sides. The 1st Round Negotiations of ‘Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement’ was held in 2018 during the official visit of the Prime Minister of Thailand to Sri Lanka. The second meeting of the ‘Sri Lanka-Thailand Trade Negotiating Committee’ was held in 2019. Both parties endorsed that they are hopeful the negotiation process will be completed soon to reap the benefits for enhanced economic cooperation.
Ambassador Chartsuwan said that there is much scope for further expansion of Sri Lanka’s exports to Thailand through the implementation of the Strategic Economic Partnership (SEP) which was signed during the official visit of the Prime Minister of Thailand. The SEP outlines cooperation under 10 sectors such as infrastructure, agro industry, fisheries, gems and jewellery, tourism, SMEs, financial cooperation, packaging industries, IT sector development and other sectors of mutual economic interest.
Sri Lanka and Thailand have sustained a timeless, mutually enriching relationship over centuries. People of both countries are bound by the Theravada Buddhist links, and both countries have continued to flourish and diversify into multifaceted areas of cooperation since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1955.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
14 December 2020
MALAYSIA - SRI LANKA RELATIONS TO FOCUS ON BILATERAL COOPERATION IN TRADE AND SECURITY IN THE POST COVID-19 RECOVERY
Monday, 14 December 2020 19:27
Malaysian High Commissioner in Colombo Tan Yang Thai paid a Courtesy Call on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Foreign Ministry premises on 11 December 2020. Discussions between the two dignitaries focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade and security between the two countries.
The High Commissioner while commenting that all countries are struggling to stay afloat amidst the raging COVID-19 virus which continues to claim heavy toll in their economies, commended policies implemented by Sri Lanka to tackle the spread of the virus. The High Commissioner further noted that Malaysia will continue to support the ASEAN centrality and the recently signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) expected to facilitate the Southeast Asian economies to return to normalcy overcoming the contagion in the post COVID -19 era. The RCEP will connect about 30% of the world’s people and generate significant gains, in particular Southeast Asia by 2030 and improve access to Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) opening up opportunities for market access in areas of transport, energy, and communications.
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena further expressing his sincere wishes to the Foreign Minister of Malaysia, highlighted that he is optimistic that Sri Lanka and Malaysia could gear up its cooperation in multifarious fields at the beginning of next year by holding bilateral political consultations. Both dignitaries agreed that there is immense potential for Sri Lanka to expand trade with Malaysia, in particular agriculture based industries.
Minister Gunawardena further commended the cooperation extended by Malaysia in security related fields and both endorsed closer cooperation. High Commissioner Tan underlined that Malaysia will not condone any type of terrorism or extremism in Malaysia, and will take every measure to curtail and will continue to promote peace and stability in the region. Furthermore, the Malaysian High Commissioner assured that Malaysia will continue to support Sri Lanka in the regional and International fora. Minister Gunawardena reiterated that Sri Lanka expects to build a strong bond with the ASEAN community during his tenure and highlighted that Sri Lanka expects to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
The trade between Sri Lanka and Malaysia has been increasing over the last few years with the emergence of Malaysia as one of Sri Lanka’s major trading partners. At present, Malaysia is the 4th supplier to Sri Lanka in 2019 supplying 4.6% of Sri Lanka’s total imports. Malaysia was the 39th export destination of Sri Lanka in 2019. Malaysia was the 6th investing partner of Sri Lanka in the year of 2019.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
14 December 2020
FOREIGN MINISTER GUNAWARDENA DISCUSSES GOSL CONCERNS WITH COLOMBO BASED ENVOYS
Wednesday, 09 December 2020 16:50
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena met with the British High Commissioner Sarah Hulton and Canadian High Commissioner David McKinnon, this week to discuss matters of bilateral importance.
The Minister addressed the mutual concern of security of countries, particularly in the context of the increasingly visible activities in the past few weeks by non-state actors engaged in glorification of terrorist acts of the LTTE, including suicide bombers. Serious note was taken by the envoys regarding the use of children in terrorist propaganda activities, leading to the radicalization of new generations of youth and children.
The High Commissioners conveyed the strong position of their governments that there was no tolerance for terrorist activities nor glorification of terrorism, in their countries, and the recent spate of acts of non-state entities in no way reflected a change in their official position on such matters.
Minister Gunawardena thanked the envoys for the continued commitment in the global fight against terrorism, including the commitment to ensure non-resurgence of the LTTE, which remains proscribed as a terrorist group in both the United Kingdom and Canada.
He noted that being Commonwealth countries, the relations between Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and Canada are deep-rooted, steadfast and wide-ranging, and expressed confidence of continued close cooperation. The talks focused on the shared efforts of countries to support citizens and re-calibrated programmes to pursue economic development and support wellbeing of citizens in the context of the global pandemic, whilst welcoming news of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Foreign Secretary Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage and senior officials of the Foreign Ministry joined Minister Gunawardena for the meetings.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
09 December 2020
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