Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Hon. Mariya Didi, Defence Minister of Maldives,
Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser of India,
Defence Secretary Major General Kamal Gunaratne,
Foreign Secretary Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me, at the outset, warmly welcome you and the visiting delegations from India and Maldives to this important Trilateral Security Meeting, which is being convened after a lapse of six years. I also welcome to our midst the latest Observer Bangladesh and of course Mauritius and Seychelles who have been with us as observers since 2014.

Your presence in Colombo, despite the challenges, posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, amply demonstrates the commitment – both individually and collectively- to the common purpose  of collaborating on our key maritime security interests and for the region’s stability and wellbeing.  Our national priorities demand of us to collaborate in order to ensure our collective security and wellbeing. As littoral States, the Indian Ocean holds a vital conduit for our prosperity and as some have said, it may well define the destiny of the planet in the 21st century.  This forum provides us with a valuable platform to pursue these goals.

Our Security is not limited to physical security and consequent regional stability, but also encompasses nontraditional security challenges including threats to marine environment.  Over exploitation of ocean-based living and natural resources, pollution, threats posed by oil spills and chemicals, acidification of the seas and sea-level rise are also among our concerns.

The Indian Ocean is the world’s third largest, it commands 60% of the world’s GDP; sees 80% of the world’s ship borne energy transport through its oceans and; facilitates 46% of the world’s merchandise trade.  Fifty five percent (55%) of the world’s container traffic ply through these oceans.  As littoral states located in the key parts of the Indian Ocean. Maritime security remains  one of our highest priorities amidst increasingly busy international sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.

As it is to all of you,  Sri Lanka sees the opportunities the Indian Ocean holds. With these opportunities comes responsibilities to our people, to the region and the world at large.  Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is a founding pillar of our engagement. We see the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in our seas and air space and protecting sea lines of communication and the undersea cables.  We believe all countries should adhere to and respect international law, including the UN Convention on Law of the Sea [UNCLOS].

Few weeks after the Enlightenment of Gauthama the Buddha, twenty six centuries ago, ‘Tapassu’ and ‘Ballucca’ became the first two followers of the Buddha.  They were successful merchants travelling in the Indian Ocean.  Infact when Hair Relics of the Buddha were gifted to them they travelled to the North Eastern port of Trincomalee, and having deposited the sacred relics they then built ‘Girihanduseya’ which to date is worshipped by the Buddhists. The two merchants then set off to Chittagong and Myanmar through Bay of Bengal.

Such historic encounters, were frequent and establishes the fact that without insulating our mutual security in the Indian Ocean through close cooperation, none can claim of invincibility.  In one perspective, the European powers that dominated our region from the 16th Century to mid-20th Century AD conquered the East through Arabian Seas and the Indian Ocean mainly due to their superior maritime capabilities.

Read more: REMARKS MADE BY HON. DINESH GUNAWARDENA, FOREIGN MINISTER AT THE INAUGURAL EVENT OF THE 4TH NSA – LEVEL TRILATERAL MEETING ON MARITIME COOPERATION ON 28 NOVEMBER 2020 AT TAJ SAMUDRA HOTEL, COLOMBO

Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage together with Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Luo Zhaohui, chaired the 11th session of the diplomatic consultations between Sri Lanka and China virtually on 23 November 2020.

While expressing satisfaction at the ongoing multifaceted partnership between Sri Lanka and China, both sides held extensive discussions on strengthening high level exchanges, fight against COVID-19, economic recovery efforts, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation on international and regional issues. The two countries agreed to expedite the implementation of the ongoing development cooperation projects, increase trade and investment with a special focus on poverty alleviation and uplifting the livelihoods of the people. The two sides also identified new avenues for mutual cooperation to further elevate the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Sri Lanka and China.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, the Embassy of China in Colombo and senior officials from the two Foreign Ministries joined the virtual meeting.

Foreign Ministry
Colombo

23 November 2020

The attention of the Ministry was drawn to the comments on Sri Lanka attributed to Chair of The Elders and former Irish President Mary Robinson as a part of a recent statement by The Elders titled ‘The Elders express deep concern at failure to respect US democratic transition of power’ which was contained in several newspapers in Ireland.

In this connection, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom Saroja Sirisena wrote to Mrs Robinson and the Editors of the relevant newspapers drawing attention to the inaccuracy of Mrs Robinson’s comments.

High Commissioner Sirisena pointed out that Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s oldest and uninterrupted democracies where people have been exercising universal suffrage since 1931 and  that successive Governments in Sri Lanka have always been elected democratically at elections held in a timely manner and subsequent transfer of power has always been swift, smooth, and peaceful.

Foreign Ministry
Colombo

19 November 2020

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena reiterated the call of the Group of 77 for adequate funding for development initiatives enabling developing countries to overcome the multifaceted challenges hindering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in the context of the exacerbated global situation due to the pandemic and its adverse effects on trade, tourism, investment and employment.

The Forty-Fourth Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 was held virtually on Thursday (12 November), chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. The interactive dialogue was held on the theme "Major priority issues and the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the obstacles it poses to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achievement of the SDGs".

In a video statement, Minister Gunwardena highlighted the strong mandate given by the people of Sri Lanka to the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa both at the presidential election and the general election, for his Vision for Prosperity & Splendour that gives confidence to Sri Lanka to commit further to the goals of the G-77. He noted that Sri Lanka’s commitment to achieve the SDGs was reflected in the appointment of a Working Group to study the current status of Sri Lanka’s implementation & progress of the SDGs.

The Foreign Minister further underscored the platform provided by the Group to developing countries in articulating and promoting collective interests on all major international economic issues within the UN system and in promoting South-South cooperation for development. He also recalled the original contribution of Sri Lanka's Economists, led by Dr. Gamani Corea, former Secretary General of UNCTAD, in mobilizing support for South-South cooperation.

Minister Gunawardena congratulated the President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, of Guyana for his stewardship of the Group, who made the key note address.  Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly and António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations also addressed the Meeting.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

13 November 2020