Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Entrepreneur Week 2022

Celebrating_Global_Entrepreneurship_Week_v01

DOORS OPEN FOR SRI LANKAN JEWELLERY INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA

The outgoing South African High Commissioner in Colombo Robina P. Marks called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Foreign Ministry on 04 December 2020.

The High Commissioner apprised the Minister that the Government of South Africa was keen to obtain assistance from Sri Lankan craftsmen to develop the Jewellery Industry in South Africa. Foreign Minister Gunawardena sought the South African expertise in the canning industry for the food and vegetable industry in Sri Lanka as around 40% of the harvest is wasted in the country due to technology gaps in this field. Besides, the Minister highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation in trade, investment and tourism sectors between the two countries. It was also discussed on further expanding tea exports to the African continent through the South African distribution network.

The outgoing High Commissioner also informed that the South African supermarket chain, SPAR has made arrangements to expand up to 20 units in Sri Lanka and also emphasized on the availability of the containers that import goods from South Africa to be used to export Sri Lankan products to the South African Market upon their return.

In conclusion, the Foreign Minister thanked the High Commissioner for her immense contribution in further consolidating relations between Sri Lanka and South Africa in all spheres. Director General of Africa Affairs of the Ministry Sumith Dassanayake was also associated in the discussion.

Foreign Ministry
Colombo

06 December 2020

FOREIGN MINISTER DINESH GUNAWARDENA DISCUSSES SRI LANKA’S BILATERAL COOPERATION WITH CUBAN AMBASSADOR

2020-12-07

The Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in Sri Lanka, Juana Elena Ramos Rodriguez met Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Friday, 04 December at the Foreign Ministry. The meeting entailed discussion, inter alia, on potential areas of cooperation, including in the pharmaceutical and sugar cane industries, where Sri Lanka would benefit from Cuban expertise and technical assistance; and ongoing collaboration in the development of the coconut industry in Cuba through technical cooperation with Sri Lanka.

Recalling the commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Cuba in 2019, the two sides welcomed collaboration between the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations of Sri Lanka (LKI) and the Raul Roa Garcia Higher Institute of International Relations in Cuba, as well as in higher education through scholarships offered to Sri Lanka for undergraduate study in Medicine by the Cuban Government. They also welcomed the MOU signed between the Chambers of Commerce of Sri Lanka and Cuba to enhance business ties.

Revised list of urgently required medicines and medical equipment as of 05th November 2022

Consignee details when sending donations is as follows:

Secretary, Ministry of Health
385, Rev. Beddegama Wimalawansa Thero Mawatha
Colombo 10.
Vat No. 4090325167000
Medical Supplies Division
Vat No. 4090317 65-2525
Attn. Dr. Anver Hamdani (077-3079525)

Revised list

STATEMENT BY HON. DINESH GUNAWARDENA, FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA AT THE 31ST SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, 03/04 DECEMBER 2020

2020-12-05

Mr President
Mr Secretary-General
Your Majesties
Your Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen

At the outset, I thank H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly for convening the Special Session in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as proposed by the Non Aligned Movement and Azerbaijan, Chair of the NAM.

I convey my deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones due to the COVID-19 Pandemic the greatest global health crisis to face humanity, and express appreciation to the frontline healthcare and essential services workers in Sri Lanka and worldwide, for their dedication and commitment.

Under the leadership of His Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka has been managing the spread of COVID-19 through the strict adherence to the Universal Health Precautions and with a whole-of-government approach, targeting zero transmission.

A National Operation Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak was established to carry out operations to combat the pandemic. A digital platform - ‘Stay Safe’ – facilitates public engagement for contact tracing. The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Prevention effectively coordinates these measures. The free Universal Health Care facility that Sri Lanka provides to its people has also lessened the spread of the virus.

Sri Lanka focuses on eliminating COVID-19 from the country in the year 2021. The mechanism and strategic plan the Government has currently deployed to respond to the pandemic while maintaining normalcy in the daily life, consist of 10 pillars: national level coordination, planning and review as the first pillar, raising awareness among the public about the risk and active participation of the society in the mitigation process as the second, supervision, rapid response and detection as the third, monitoring at the ports of entry and inland transportations routes as the fourth, strengthening the laboratory system as the fifth, control and prevention of the spread of the virus as the sixth, adequate handling of patients as the seventh, expediting facilities to all the healthcare services as the eighth, continuation of the essential health services as the ninth and ensuring social security and continuation of economic activities as the tenth.

In addressing the socio-economic impact caused by the pandemic, the Government has granted financial relief and dry rations to over six million families and vulnerable groups, established a COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund and provides financial facilities to local businesses.