Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

As a part of the initiatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take its consular services to the people, without having to travel to Colombo, the formal opening of the second Regional Consular Office in Matara will take place on Friday, 15 February 2019 at 10.30 a.m.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tilak Marapana and Minister of Finance and Mass Media, Mangala Samaraweera will declare open the office in the presence of Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament representing Southern Province.

Consular services to be extended to the public would include attestation of birth, marriage and death certificates, educational and other legal documents for their use abroad, extending assistance to family members of Sri Lankans stranded abroad, facilitation of redress and compensation claims of families of migrant workers and repatriation of human remains from abroad. The Regional Consular Office is located at No.391, Anagaraika Darmapala Mawatha, Matara. A regional Consular Office has been functioning in Jaffna since 26 January 2017.

The 71^st Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence was celebrated at the Sri Lanka High Commissioner’s Official Residence in Ottawa, Canada with the participation of over 120 Sri Lankan Community members.

The ceremony was commenced with hoisting the national flag and singing the national anthem in Sinhala and Tamil languages, followed by observance of two minute silence in honour of our National Heroes. The traditional oil lamp was lit by guests representing all communities and Sri Lankan associations based in Ottawa.  Religious discourses were delivered by the members of the clergy representing the Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Islamic faiths.

The message of President Maithripala Sirisena was read by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, M.A.K. Girihagama, while those of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana were read by Ms. Sithara Khan, Deputy High Commissioner and Ms. Mithila Perera, Second Secretary of the High Commission.

Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Girihagama noted that the main challenge that Sri Lanka is facing today is bringing economic prosperity to the country. He enumerated several positive developments in Sri Lanka in terms of imports, exports, and tourism sectors and emphasized the need of committed and planned economic drive to a better economic growth in 2019.

The High Commissioner stated that the relations with Canada remains very warm and cordial and that the Mission’s priority was to strengthen trade and economic relations with Canada.

Referring to the substantial presence of Canadians of Sri Lankan extraction on the occasion, the High Commissioner referred to them as the greatest strength to Sri Lanka’s efforts in promoting bilateral relations with Canada. The 71^st National Day celebration was attended by the Sri Lankan community members including, particularly, a group of Tamil community members from the city of Montreal, depicting strong friendship and reconciliation.

A luncheon was hosted by the High Commission at the conclusion of the ceremony.

 Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

04^th February 2019

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama was the Special Guest at the Thai Pongal celebrations organized by the Thamillor Oli Association of Quebec in collaboration with the Montréal Tamil Schools and Fine Arts Schools on 12^th January 2019 at the Ecolé Lucien Page Auditorium in Montréal, Quebec.

High Commissioner Girihagama and Mrs. Sudarma Girihagama were welcomed by the organizers on their arrival.

Addressing the large gathering, which consisted of prominent dignitaries including MPs, MNAs the Mayor, City Counsellors and representatives of different cultural communities, High Commissioner Girihagama spoke of the prominence according to all religious festivals in the Sri Lankan calendar and stated that the festivities begin for the year with the celebration of Thai Pongal. Speaking of the significance of the celebrations, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner stated that the celebrations bring families together and is a time when old enmities, personal animosities and rivalries are forgotten. He said that estrangements are healed and reconciliation effected on this festive occasion.

 High Commissioner Girihagama also commended the community members for following their cultural practices and traditions although they live thousands of miles away from their motherland for many years, which he said, proved the popular saying that “culture has no boundaries and limits”.

The Thamillor Oli Association was established in 1984 and has been working towards uniting Tamil community throughout Montréal and helping them to integrate into the Canadian society. The Association has also been in the forefront of keeping the community’s heritage and culture alive through language development and fine arts including music, art, dance and poetry.

The celebrations included many cultural items performed by the members of the community.

High Commissioner Girihagama was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Sudarma Girihagama.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

14^th January 2019

Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana has called on Sri Lankan diplomats to boost the image of Sri Lanka overseas through efficient and effective execution of public diplomacy, utilizing its intrinsic brands such as Buddhism, gems, tea, spices, high-end export products and the warmth of traditional Sri Lankan hospitality.

Minister Marapana made these remarks at the certificate awarding ceremony on Friday (11 January) of the two-week long Public Diplomacy and Media Relations training programme, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its officials in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) with a view to enhancing their public diplomacy and media relations skills. The programme was attended by the officers of the 2018 intake of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service and a group of mid-level officers serving in the Ministry.

This was the first time in two decades that the Ministry organized a professional training programme dedicated to public diplomacy and media relations for its officials.

Read more: Foreign Minister Marapana calls on Sri Lankan diplomats to boost the image of Sri Lanka overseas through effective execution of public diplomacy

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama on the invitation of the Sri Lanka-Canada Association Ottawa (SLCAO), was the Chief Guest at the Sri Lankan Community Festive Dinner Dance held at the St. Isidore Church Hall in Kanata on 5^th January 2019.

In his addressed at the event, High Commissioner Girihagama stated that the SLCAO which began functioning 43 years ago with about 138 members is a well established community organization in Ottawa. He noted that the Association has been carrying out many charitable activities including helping flood victims in Sri Lanka. The High Commissioner also commended the Senior Group of the SLCAO for the various events they have continued to conduct including meditation, religious programmes, etc for their members.

Read more: High Commissioner Asoka Girihagama graces SLCAO Community event in Ottawa

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama participated in special religious observances organized separately by the three Buddhist temples in Ottawa consisting of the Ottawa Buddhist Vihara, Hilda Jayewardenaramaya and the Ottawa Theravada Buddhist Vihara and Cultural Center in Orleans, during the course of 1^st January 2019.

High Commissioner Girihagama in his address at the temples, in the Sinhala and English languages, expressed his appreciation to the Chief Incumbents for their commitment in carrying out their religious duties with limited facilities and funds. He appreciated the weekly religious programmes, such as Dhamma schools, meditation classes and religious discussions etc., conducted by the three temples.

Read more: High Commissioner Asoka Girihagama participates at religious observances to invoke blessings for the New Year

The Sri Lanka High Commission held a special ceremony at the chancery on 2nd January 2019 to ceremonially commence work for the year 2019.

The event commenced with the High Commissioner Asoka Girihagama hoisting the National Flag of Sri Lanka, followed by the singing of the national anthem. Two minutes of silence was observed to commemorate the war heroes and others who sacrificed their lives on behalf of the motherland. Thereafter, the staff took an Oath of Public Service to affirm their commitment to serving the public.

Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner Girihagama extended his warm wishes for the New Year and appreciated the achievements of the Mission during the year 2018. He requested the continuous dedication of the staff in order to serve the public, to strengthen bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Canada and play a pivotal role in reaching the Government’s developmental goals.

The ceremonial event concluded with traditional Sri Lankan refreshments.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

2nd January 2019