Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Yesterday, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus, a resolution, spearheaded by Sri Lanka, declaring 15^th July as the World Youth Skills Day. Sri Lanka initiated this resolution, with the assistance of the G77 & China, to highlight at a global level, the importance of youth skills development. The goal is to achieve better socio-economic conditions for today’s youth, including as a means of addressing the challenges of unemployment and under employment. This is the only resolution promoted by Sri Lanka at the UN in New York since 1999. 

The Government of Sri Lanka notes with satisfaction the several media reports on a communication to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O. Panneerselvam informing of the decision to release on 22^nd December 2014, thirty (30) Sri Lankan fishermen and nineteen (19) boats currently in the State’s custody. 

The Government of Sri Lanka vehemently condemns the terrorist attack today at a school in Peshawar killing over 125 persons including 84 innocent children and injuring more than 100 others.  This dastardly attack reflects the brutality of the perpetrators particularly targeting  school children. The brazen and inhumane manner in which this heinous attack was carried out at a seat of learning is particularly shocking.

The Government of Sri Lanka vehemently condemns the siege by a gunman on Monday 15th December at a café in Sydney’s central business district where 17 people were held hostage and resulted in the death of two hostages and injured five including a policeman.