Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

James Alan Bennet appointed Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka for Surrey, British Columbia

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The Commission of Appointment of Honorary Consul for the province of British Columbia was ceremoniously handed over by High Commissioner Harsha Kumara Navaratne to Mr. James (Jim) Alan Bennett on 03^rd May 2023, at the office of the High Commissioner in Ottawa.

Briefing on the functions and duties, High Commissioner Navaratne stated that the role of the Honorary Consul in the modern context goes beyond routine consular related assistance, and he would be expected to assist the High Commission in promoting the interest of Sri Lanka with focus on outreach, promotion of tourism and investment. Honorary Consul Bennett informed that he is already in contact with the Sri Lankan community in BC and is looking forward to work on identified priority areas under the guidance of the High Commission.

The office of the Honorary Consul is based in Surrey, British Columbia and he could be reached on +1-236-513-4744 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Honorary Consul Bennett is currently working as Principal Strategic Advisor at Jim Bennett Consulting and he is also the Administrator and Adjudicator of Jim Bennett Trust Fund (private). He has also volunteered his services as National Coordinator Canada at Astronomers Without Borders and member of Community Advisory Council of the Simon Fraser University. He is the founder and Executive Director of South Fraser Community Services and has established the Front Room 24 hour drop in Centre for Homeless on135 A Street, as well as the Surrey Needle Exchange –third in B.C. He is the recipient of Surrey’s 2020 Good Citizen Award.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

03^rd May 2023

Let us unite and dedicate ourselves for the betterment of our Motherland – Foreign Minister Gunawardena

It is our responsibility in the New Year 2021 to work together as Sri Lankans shedding all differences to safeguard the dignity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka while maintaining ‘Kalyana Mithra’ friendly relations with all countries of the world, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stated in his message for the New Year.

Everyone needs to think about how the countries in the world that are far more oppressed than our’s and have less facilities than us were able to develop faster than us. We should take examples of the political, social and economic changes that have taken place in those countries.

Pure Theravada Buddhism is a very valuable guide for the development of Sri Lanka, but it is time now for us to look back to see whether we have paid full attention to do that.

The Policy Statement ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ and the Non-Aligned Friendly Foreign Policy of the Government will help make Sri Lanka a great nation in the world. We will all work towards these goals in this New Year to protect our motherland as a sovereign state and exemplary to the future generations.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena wished that this New Year would be a happy, healthy and prosperous year for all Sri Lankans, as well all people around the world.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

01 January 2021