Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Statement to Media by Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the Official Visit of John Kerry, US Secretary of State to Sri Lanka

Good Morning Ladies and Gentleman,

It has been a great honour and privilege to welcome the Honourable John F. Kerry, Secretary of State of the United States, to the historic Republic Building which has been the home of our Foreign Ministry since Independence.

Secretary Kerry’s visit is a momentous occasion for Sri Lanka as it is the first official visit by a US Secretary of State in nearly half a century - 43 years to be precise.

US Secretary of State John Kerry to undertake official visit to Sri Lanka

On the invitation of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Secretary of State of the United States of America John Kerry will pay an official visit to Sri Lanka from 2^nd to 3^rd May 2015. This is the first official visit by an US Secretary of State since that of William Pierce Rogers in 1972. Secretary Colin Powell visited Sri Lanka following the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2005.

Secretary Kerry will pay a courtesy call on President Maithripala Sirisena and hold wide ranging discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Samaraweera. He will deliver a special guest lecture on the invitation of the Foreign Minister and attend several other engagements in Colombo.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

28 April 2015

Sri Lanka condoles with Nepal on the tragic loss of life and damage to property from the Earthquake and dispatches Emergency Relief Assistance

The Government and the people of Sri Lanka is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives and extensive damage to property caused by the earthquake which occurred this (25^th April) morning in Nepal and extends sincere condolences to the Government and people of Nepal particularly the families of the bereaved, and, wish a speedy recovery to those injured by this calamity.

Deputy Foreign Minister concludes successful visit to The Hague

DepFM-CourtArbitration

On the sidelines of the Global Conference on Cyberspace (GCCS -2015), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ajith P. Perera paid a visit to the historic Peace Palace on 16^th April 2015 and met , Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), Mr. Brooks W. Daly. The Deputy Minister briefed the Deputy Secretary General on current political developments in Sri Lanka, including proposed constitutional reforms, progress achieved in protection and the promotion of human rights and government initiatives being taken to foster peace and reconciliation. Dep. Secretary General Daily acknowledged Sri Lanka’s contribution in the PCA and noted the significant service rendered by eminent Sri Lankan jurists in the International Court of Justice. Both parties agreed to expedite the finalization of a proposed Host Country Agreement between Sri Lanka and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The PCA which was established in 1899 as an intergovernmental organization with the aim of facilitating arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution between States and now consists of 117 State parties, with Sri Lanka a member since 1955.

Deputy Foreign Minister Perera highlights Sri Lanka's achievements in ICT

Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P Perera participated at the Global Conference on Cyberspace, from 16-17 April 2015 in the Netherlands. Speaking at the conference, the Deputy Minister underscored that Information and Communication Technology was the tool and enabler that would push the boundaries of socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and that e-Government led reforms would be a catalyst in bringing greater transparency, efficiency and accountability. He also briefed on various initiatives underway in the ICT sector that had brought Sri Lanka to the lead position in South Asia on the UN e-Government Readiness rank.